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THE 



American Kennel 



AND 



SPORTING FIELD 



BY 



ARNOLD BURGES, 



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:XOO 




i JUN 8 1883 'if 

^^^P- y/ ASH \ t^so^>/ 


Revised Edition. 






BROOKLYN, N. Y. 




D. S. 


HOLMES, PUBLISHER, 




1 88^. 







S F4^^1 




• ,2)S5 


COPYRIGHT. 




D. S. HOLMES, 




1883. 





TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Preface .__----»--v 

Chap. I, Origin of the Dog — Some Sporting Breeds, 9 

" II. What Constitutes a Good Dog, - « 24 

" III. Points in Selecting a Dog, - - " 37 

" IV, Setters, their Breeding and Comparative 

Value, ._..-. 53 

" V. The Best Dog for American Sporting - 99 

" VI. Breeding, -» - 109 

" VII. Breaking Young and Old Dogs, - » - 126 

" VIII. Diseases and their Treatment, - - 180 

" IX. Bench Shows and Field Trials, - - - 214 

" X. Guns and Field Equipments, . - - 224 



Press of Jenkins & Thomas, 
8 Spruce Street, N. Y. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Champion Queen Mab, 



9 

lO 

II 

12 
13 

14 
15 
16 

17 

18 
19 

20 
21 

22 

23 
24 

25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
32 



Frontispiece, 

Dash II, 

Druid, 

Countess Bear, 

Gladstone. 

Countess Vesta, 

Rob Roy, 

Lizzie Lee, 

Dash III, 

Drake, 

Dashing Novice, 

Paris, 

Dashing Rover, 

Lincoln, 

Pollux, 

Dashing Monarch, 

Grouse, 

Lang, 

Biz, 

Meg, 

Rose, 

Faust and Bow, 

Special, 

Stella, 

Count Bendigo, - 

Dan O'Conner, 

Nell and True, 

H. & R. Gun, and Lock Action. 

Ruffed Grouse Shooting. 

Snipe Shooting. 

Dora, . - - - 

Don — Peg — George, 

Reckless, . , - 

acknowledgment. 



Illustration on Cover, 

Mr. Tristam Surges. 

Cut of Author. 

Mr. Llewellins, England. 

Mr. A. Burges. 

Mr, Llewellins, England. 

Mr. P. H, Brysons. 

Harvard Kennel Club. 

Mr. A. Burges. 

Dr. S. F. Spier. 

Mr. A. M. Tucker. 

Mr. Luther Adams: 

Mr. D. C. Sanborn. 

Mr. L. H. Smith. 

- Mr. T. F. Taylor. 
Mr. Jas. Dew. 

- Mr. E. E. Hardy. 
Mr. J. C. Higgins. 

Willard Bros. 

Mr. Coath, England. 

Mr. J. S. Mcintosh. 

Mr. B. F. Clark. 

Dr. Wm. Jarvis. 

St. Louis Kennel Club. 

Mr. Thorp ^Bartram, England. 

* Mr. A. H. Moore. 

Mr. J. D. Olcott. 

Milwaukee Kennel Club. 

Mr. Bartram and Mr. Norris, England. 



Luther Adams. 
Dr. A. Strachan. 
Publisher's Dog. 



The author I3 Indebted lor the greater portion of the cuts of celebrated dogs in the present 
volume, to Dr. N. Rowe, of the American Field. Others have been contributed by the owners, 
whUe that of Druid, and Ruffed Grouse Shooting, have been made from drawings by Mr. J. B. 
Field, of Detroit. To one and all the author extends his thanks for courteous assistance in the 
preparation of mis book. 



PREFACE. 



WHEN six years since I wrote "The American 
Kennel and Sporting Field," and gave therein the 
first list of canine pedigrees ever Issued In this country, 
I stated In the Preface my Intention to revise that list 
from time to time, so as to keep pace with the importa- 
tions and breeding of sporting dogs. This intention 
was, however, frustrated by the organization of the 
National American Kennel Club, In 1876, having for 
its object, among others, the issue of an official stud 
book, and as I recognized the fact that a National Club 
could give to such a work a character no private Individ- 
ual could, I withdrew the American Kennel and Sporting 
Field from competition. The book has consequently 
remained unrevised till now, and though at the time of 
its Issue, I think I can say it fairly represented the con- 
dition of our sporting interests with the theories and 
creeds of that day, the radical changes and developments 
which have taken place since, render a revision now 
necessary, to purge the work of its crudities and present 
Inconsistencies. A portion of the original matter has 
been reproduced In the present volume, but there are 
also extensive alterations, additions and some direct 



VI PREFACE. 



contradictions of former statements. The latter are due 
to recent revelations of the false character of pedigrees 
then deemed reliable, and to such revolutions as time 
has wrought in our sportsmenship. In a country where 
field sports have but recently come into general recog- 
nition, and where but a few years since canine breeding 
and selling was confined to a disreputable class, a short 
time naturally produces great alterations, and the 
writer who honestly tries to keep up with the develop- 
ments of the day, will find himself compelled to retract 
assertions, made upon the authority of different circum- 
stances. 

In the first volume I acknowledged the possession 
of strong opinions and views upon different points which 
would appear in the book, and time has not changed me 
in this respect. What my views upon certain matters 
are, has been plainly shown by my writings in The Amer- 
ican Field, to which I have been for years a regular 
contributor, and I need not refer to them more definite- 
ly at this time. I have always tried to form my opinions 
slowly, avoiding hasty conclusions, and carefully exam- 
ining the premises from which I drew my deductions. 
I have for thirty years led an active sporting life, 
shooting constantly in the season and breaking my own 
dogs, so that my opportunities for gaining experience 
have been neither scanty nor short lived; yet recognizing 
the fact that each man forms his views from his own 



PREFACE. Vli 

experience, I concede that others have an indisputable 
right to differ from me, and that I may even have been 
misled by circumstances to which others have not been 
subjected. I have therefor endeavored at all times to 
show respect for the opinions of others, and if concur- 
rence with such has been impossible, I have at least 
tried to disagree with the courtesy a gentleman should 
show to his peers. The same spirit animates me now 
In tracing the lines of the present volume. In It I shall 
give what I believe to be reliable directions, logical 
deductions and fair conclusions upon the various 
subjects discussed, but I shall not present them 
arrogantly or as above criticism. I ask fair criticism 
and kindly judgment by my fellow sportsmen: the 
great brotherhood to which I dedicated my first 
volume, as I now dedicate this. 

A. B. 

Hillsdale, Michigan, June, 1882. 



to the great brotherhood of 

american sportsmen, in recognition of their 

high qualities as crack shots and true gentlemen, 

as well as in grateful acknowledgement of the courtesy 

with which his efforts for the advancement of 

the craft have been received, this book is 

respectfully dedicated by 

The Author. 




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CHAPTER I. 

^ORIGIN OF THE DOG SOME SPORTING BREEDS. 

FOR many years It was supposed that the dog was a 
descendant of the wolf, fox, or jackal, changed by 
domestication, climatic Influences, and association with 
man, into his present form. Many prominent writers 
have held this theory, and attempted to prove the con- 
nection by the fact that the period of gestation in the 
wolf Is the same as that of the dog, and that both the 
fox and the wolf have an obliquity of vision which is 
also a peculiarity of the wild dog. In 1837, Bell, In a 
work on quadrupeds, asserted that the anatomy and 
osteology of the dog and wolf are identical, and that the 
two will breed together and their produce be fertile. 
Similar instances of fertility in the fox and dog cross 
have also been claimed, and some years since letters 
appeared In The Field (London) describing a Vulpo- 
canine cross, within the personal knowledge of the writer. 
The editor " Stonehenge," did not, however, deem this 
instance conclusive evidence of kinship in species, as the 
fertility of the progeny was not proved by breeding to 
the product of a similar cross. Late investigation has 
brought to light unquestionable evidence that the dog 
will breed with the wolf and cayote, and produce fertile 
offspring, which would not be the case if the species 



lO AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

were dissimilar. Notable Instances of this are found 
among the Indian dogs of the West, and by scientific 
men the dog Is now regarded as the descendant of a 
combination of crosses with wolves, foxes and jackals, 
and not a distinct species. 

Troops of wild dogs may be found on both hemi- 
spheres. There are varieties in China, Australia, and both 
of the Americas, but In each country the different individ- 
uals present the same peculiarities of treacherous disposi- 
tion and uniformity of color and form, joined to a low order 
of instinct. Some of these, as for example the DIngos of 
Australia live in burrows, and do not bark until captured 
and taught by association with domesticated dogs. 

Just when the dog was domesticated and made the 
companion and servant of man is a question which can- 
not be answered. The early history of his race is 
wrapped in the obscurity of a far distant past. From 
Holy Writ we gather proofs of his presence In the 
tents of the Israelites, while the historian speaks of him 
as a retainer in the households of the ancient Greeks 
and Romans. In the British Museum there is a bas 
r(?//(?/ exhumed from the ruins of Nineveh which repre- 
sents the dog as taking part in the chase, and relics of 
later days from Pompeii present him In all the familiar 
relations which he bears at the present day. 

It is certain, then, that for many ages the dog has 
been associated with man, following his fortunes, and 
rendering him faithful and loving service. Confined to 
no particular division of the globe, but essentially cos- 
mopolitan, he exists wherever man dwells, and relatively 
keeps pace with his master in development of intelli- 



SOME SPORTING BREEDS. II 

gence and the higher attributes of his nature. 

It is very reasonable to suppose that the dog, like 
many other species of animals, was divided into differ- 
ent families, according to the localities in which he 
dwelt, and the influences to which he was subjected. 
Starting with this assumption, we can much more easily 
understand the difference in size and qualities which 
now mark the race. Between the ponderous bulk of 
the St. Bernard or Mastiff and the fragile form of the 
toy terrier there is too wide a margin for us to conceive 
it the result of breeding alone, and we have only the 
alternative of considering them descendants of two 
different branches, though of the same species. The 
same may be said with equal justice of each of our 
present breeds, with the exception of those which we 
can trace directly back to an origin in the cross of two 
breeds. As for the qualities which, not less strongly 
than difference of form, distinguish different varieties 
of dogs, these are beyond question due to education. 
A mere instinctive action, called out and displayed by 
accident, has been recognized by man as calculated to 
promote his pleasure or profit, and consequently he has 
turned his attention to its development ; through 
generation after generation this training has gone on 
till the dog has progressed to a point of cultivation far 
in advance of his former ability, and the performances 
of educated instinct raise the animal nearly to the alti- 
tude of a reasoning being. 

I do not propose in this work to consider any other 
dogs than those devoted to field sports, nor even to 
take up the entire list of these, but to confine myself 



12 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 

to Setters, Pointers, Spaniels, Retrievers, and certain 
breeds of Hounds, since these are the dogs especially 
adapted to the pursuit of American game. I shall 
speak of these in the order to which I consider them 
entitled, describing English varieties, as they undoubt- 
edly afford a better standard than our own. 

The best English authorities among whom I may 
mention " Stonehenge," Laverack, and " Idstone," all say 
that the setter is a direct descendant of the land Spaniel, 
and speak of a "Setting Spaniel" as the first Setter. 
There is no doubt that this is a correct theory, and that 
our Setter is a pure, unadulated, but improved. Spaniel. 
"Stonehenge" says :" A Duke of Northumberland train- 
ed one to set birds in 1555, and shortly after the Setter 
was produced." It must be borne in mind that the 
"Setting Spaniel" was a different dog from the Spaniel 
of the present time, which does not display a faculty for 
setting or pointing game. The old Setting Spaniel has 
lost his identity by merging it in his descendant, the 
Setter ; and has become extinct by the breeding of an 
improved animal. " Idstone," in his work on the dog 
says : "The English Setter was known in England many 
years before the Pointer was introduced, and I have 
little doubt that he followed the Romans, or was brought 
with them." "Stonehenge" also says : "He is the most 
national of all our dogs, and certainly has existed for 
four centuries." In another place he quotes from the 
work of Richard Surflet, who wrote in the year 1600, 
and as the extract contains a good description of the 
original Setter, I give a portion of it as follows : "After 
describing Spaniels 'which delight in plains and the open 



SOME SPORTING BREEDS. 



fields,' and others more adapted for covert, he goes on 
to say, ' TJicre is another sort of land spaitnyels which 
are called setters, and they differ nothing from the 
former but in iiistrnction and obedience, for these must 
neither hunte, range nor retaine more or less than as 
the master appointeth, taking the whole limit of what- 
soever they do from the eie or hand of their instructor. 
They must never quest at any time, what occasion 
soever shall happen, but as being dogs without voices, 
so they must hunt close and mute. And when they 
come upon the haunt of that they hunt, they shall 
sodainely stop and fall down upon their bellies, and so 
leasurely creep by degrees to the game till they come 
within two or three yards thereof, or so neare that they 
cannot press nearer without danger of retrieving. Then 
shall youre setter stick, and by no persuasion go further 
till yourself come in and use your pleasure.'" 

Thus we see that our Setter was evolved by educa- 
tion from a dog that did not point naturally, but owing 
to the small demand at that time for pointing dogs, a 
portion of the originals was left uneducated, and from 
such have descended the present breeds of field Spaniels. 

Although it is claimed that the dogs of our ancestors 
were superior to our own, this is undoubtedly an error. 
If we may form any opinion from a comparison of the 
picture of dogs of half a century back with the prize 
winners of to-day, it is certain that our dogs are infinite- 
ly in the ascendent. This, too, is the opinion of 
*'Stonehenee," while Laverack maintains the reverse. 
It seems to me a strange thing, if, with a constantly 
increasing love for field sports, and, as a consequence, 



14 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

an. equally increasing care in breeding, the dog should 
have degenerated. There were doubtless staunch sports- 
men in the olden days, yet no one considers them equal 
in appliances, at least to the sportsmen of this age; and 
I must confess that I believe the performances of their 
dogs have been exaggerated in transmission to us, or 
blindly upheld -from a conservative spirit similar to that 
which so constantly manifests itself in the complaint of 
the aged, that things have changed for the worse since 
they were young. 

Be this as it may, It is certain that we have now 
dogs half human in intelligence, and bearing in their 
veins the blood of canine kings; and, as during the last 
quarter of a century the race has been unquestionably 
improved, it is still reasonable to suppose that the acme 
of perfection has not yet been reached, and that qualities 
are still latent which will be brought out under a judi- 
cious course of breeding from selected animals. 

The trans-Atlantic Setter family is divided into three 
great national classes, the English, Irish, and Gordon 
or Scotch varieties; each with its strongly marked 
distinctions of form, color and general style. These 
may be considered the only Setters worthy of note ; for 
though there are certainly a number of continental 
breeds, they cannot compare with those I have men- 
tioned. In this country our best dogs are, those 
recently imported or the descendants of such imported 
stock, although we now and then find a dog to which 
the title "native" may be aptly applied (since all trace 
of his descent from any particular strain has been lost) 
that in the field can, for nose, pace and staunchness 



SOME SPORTING BREEDS. 



15 



hold his own against any of his more aristocratic con- 
freres. Here, however, he stops, since for stud purposes 
such dogs are valueless, and only upheld by prejudiced 
persons like the old fogies who, with equal sense and 
propriety, prefer the muzzle loader to the breech loader. 

The Setter is the favorite with American sportsmen 
generally, and, for my part, I think he is fully entitled 
to this honor; since both my own experience, and such 
evidence as I have been able to collect, show that he is 
undeniably better adapted for all kinds of work than 
any other field dog. As to which of the three varieties 
is the best, it Is a point upon which there Is a difference 
of opinion, as each breed has its friends, but If the 
repeated proofs of superiority afforded by both trials 
and bench shows have any weight, It cannot be denied 
that the English Setter stands at the head of the list 
as the best and handsomest dog of the day. 

It was not until the Setter had been for many years 
a resident of Great Britian that the Pointer made his 
first appearance in that realm, being imported from 
Spain, by some admirer of his keen nose and indomit- 
able staunchness. The origfinal color was liver and 
white, and the dog was large-boned, with a heavy head 
and slack loins. In the field he possessed exquisite 
scenting powers, but was surly and cross In disposition, 
stubborn, and almost devoid of affection for his master. 
Of his origin nothing Is positively known, but most of 
the old time authorities consider him a cross from some 
of the larger hounds. 

Whatever may have been the descent of the old 
Spaniard, whether pure or of a hound extraction as 



i6 



AMERICAN" KENNEL AND FIELD. 



these authors assert, the modern Pointer Is essentially 
a made-up dog. 

From his slow and pottering style, the Spaniard soon 
came to be regarded with disfavor, and breeders cast 
about them for some cross which would produce a dog 
perpetuating the nose and staunchness of his ancestor, 
but gifted with a better form and more speed. To gain 
these, Fox-hound blood was introduced with the happi- 
est results ; and towards the close of the last century, 
'•Dash," a liver and white dog belonging to Col. 
Thornton, showed such superior qualities that he was 
sold for one hundred and twenty guineas and a cask of 
Maderia. This cross introduced different colors, and 
we have now the self or uniform' colors, — such as white, 
liver, black, — and the black and tan, and mixed colors. 
Various other crosses have been introduced from time 
to time, as experiments, until the dog of to-day is the 
result of several combined strains of blood. 

The Pointer has no such strongly marked divisions 
as the Setter, and the principal distinction between 
families lies in the color which has been adopted and 
bred by different sportsmen. Stonehenge says in his 
third edition of Dogs of the British Isles. "There are 
two distinct varieties strongly marked by color, viz : the 
lemon and white and the liver and white, besides the 
black and white, the whole liver and the whole black 
strains; but these last are not common in the present 
day, and the appearance of one upon the show bench is 
almost as rare as a black swan." Custom has also divided 
Pointers into classes according to size, viz: the large and 
small. The weight of the large Pointer is from fifty-five 




-_._-/.\ 



D R U ID if 9 4< 2 67. 



"^^T" 



( PrincE — Dnra) 
BrBBder Mr.LLEWELLIN. ImpnrtGr^DwnBr ARNOLD BURGES, 



SOME SPORTING BREEDS. 



17 



pounds upwards, and of the small variety from forty-five 
to fifty, the bitches in each class being from five to ten 
pounds lighter than the dogs. 

The greatest fault (and it is undeniably a great one) 
in the modern Pointer is his delicacy. While the 
Spanish Pointer was a rough-coated, thick-skinned 
animal, the dog of this day has a fine, satin-like coat, 
and a skin so thin that he is unfit for cold or severe 
work upon the half-frozen marshes, or in thorny covers. 
He may, indeed, endure such for a time, through sheer 
pluck and courage, but it is only a question of time with 
him, and he must eventually succumb to wounds, sore 
feet, or frost. 

According to Stonehenge, the modern field Spaniels 
are divided into the modern cockers, which class includes 
every kind of field Spaniel, except the Sussex and 
Clumber, (known as Springers), and the English and 
Irish water Spaniels. The Norfolk was formerly in- 
cluded among the Springers, but is now classed as a 
cocker. He is taller than either of the Springers and 
more active, being very setter-like in style of action. In 
color he is generally liver and white, though sometimes 
black and, white and rarely lemon and white. The 
Welsh and Devon cockers are also liver and white. 
These dogs have been crossed with the Springers to give 
them size, and they now weigh from thirty pounds 
upwards. There are a great many other varieties of 
cockers differing in size and color, black being a 
favorite with present breeders. 

The Clumber is named from a seat of the Duke of 
Newcastle in Nottinghamshire, where the breed origin- 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



ated. This Is a long-bodied, short-legged dog, standing 
only about eighteen inches in height, and weighing 
about forty-five pounds. In color, he should be pure 
white, with pale lemon marking, the coat being soft, 
silky, and straight, but not very heavy. The ears are 
unlike those of other Spaniels, being shaped like the 
Setter's, and scantilly feathered below the leather. He 
is a mute dog, and never gives tongue upon game 
when well broken. Being essentially a land Spaniel, 
he does not like water; but is especielly fitted for 
thorny covers, where he is from his keen nose, a sure 
finder of game. 

Next in importance comes the Sussex, which previous 
to 1872, was not separately classed, but was exhibited 
among the large Spaniels. Breeders of the Sussex 
Spaniels claim that this dog must not only be of a liver 
color himself but descended from parents of that color, 
and Stonehenge mentions the protesting of Mr. Bullock's 
George at Birmingham in 1874, because his sire was 
black ; an objection since held as valid. The Sussex is 
a smaller dog than the Clumber, weighing about ten 
pounds less, but, like him, powerfully made. The ear 
is moderately long, rounded or lobe-shaped at the tip, 
set low on the head, and hanging close to the cheeks. 
Unlike the Clumber, the Sussex gives tongue upon his 
game, but in subdued tones, free from babbling or clamor 
if well broken. He has also less dislike for water, and 
when well handled is a valuable dog, as he is a careful 
and fast worker, being faster than the Clumber. He 
takes pleasure in the pursuit of game and makes a fine 
retriever. 



SOME SPORTING BREEDS. 19 

Of the water Spaniels there are but two pure 
varieties, viz., the Enghsh and Irish. The former is 
now very nearly extinct, though a single specimen may 
still be occasionally met with. About the first of the 
present century, as we learn from the writers of those 
times, this dog was common, and principally employed 
in hunting wild fowl. In form he was a large-sized, well- 
built dog, invariably liver color with a white ring round 
the neck and down the breast, and a narrow strip of 
white down the face. The stern was well feathered and 
bushy, and the ears rather small. As this dog was used 
only as a retriever, and was apt to be hard-mouthed, he 
has of late years given place to the improved retriever, 
and with the decrease in demand for his services the 
breed has been allowed to run out. 

In Ireland, the water Spaniel has been brought up 
to a high degree of perfection, and is, indeed, a very 
valuable animal. There are two varieties in the kincr- 
dom, known as the northern and southern Spaniel. 
These vary in color, coat and form. Of the two the 
southerner is greatly the superior, especially those known 
as the McCarthy breed, which is now considered as the 
type. Unlike the northern dog, which was white, 
or liver and white, in a majorty of cases, these dogs 
have no white, but are a rich dark liver. The ears of 
the northern dog are very short, but In McCarthy's 
breed measure about twenty-six inches from tip to tip. 
The body is covered with close, stiff curls, and a mask 
or top-knot of long hair runs down to the middle of the 
forehead, and extends back to the top of the head in the 
form of a V. The tail is large at the junction with the 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



body, but tapers quickly to a sharp, sting-like point, 
being short and unfeathered. In height, the dog is from 
twenty-three to twenty-five inches. These are superior 
water dogs, and make fine retrievers as their coats dry 
quickly, and they are thus saved much discomfort and 
hardship from exposure to cold and frost. 

As in England, Setters and Pointers are not allowed 
to retrieve ; dogs bred for that special duty are needed 
there, but in this country where retrieving is so com- 
monly taught, the class of retrievers proper is a small 
one, and confined to dogs used in wild fowl shooting. 
In most sections purely bred Irish Water Spaniels are 
used, and are so well adapted for the purpose, that only 
the limited use there is for them, prevents their taking 
a prominent place in the list of our sporting dogs. On 
the Chesapeake, and along the neighboring coast, there 
was, before the war, a breed of duck retrievers of great 
local renown ; but the war called many of the duck 
shooters into service, the breed became scattered, and 
despite the efforts of a few gentlemen, and the encour- 
agement attempted by the establishment of a special 
class for Chesapeakes at some shows, they have practical- 
ly passed away. In a later chaper, I shall quote a 
description of these dogs, as they were essentially 
American retrievers, and the only breed of such, native 
to this country. 

The Hound class is also a small one, comprising 
Fox-hounds, beagles, and a few Dachshunds. Fox- 
hunting was before the war, a favorite sport with wealthy 
southern sportsmen, and a few fine, well-bred packs were 
kept up. Of late years, it has been taken up in English 



SOME SPORTING BREEDS. 2 1 

Style by clubs in the Eastern States, but will never 
become generally popular, as a great majority of our 
land owners will not permit their fields to be over-run 
by hounds and horsemen. All over the country 
there are individual sportsmen who delight in what is 
called fox-hunting, that is, driving the fox to the gun, 
vulpecide, which would arouse the rage of an English 
" M. F. H.," being the common practice here. Dogs of 
this breed are used in this country for all game pursued 
with hounds. The Hare, (commonly called Rabbit,) 
Deer and Foxes, are all killed before them, according to 
the tastes or opportunities of the sportsmen. Abroad, 
different varieties of game are pursued by different 
hounds, but this distinction will not prevail here, gener- 
ally, as it would entail the maintalnance of kennels too 
extensive and costly for the majority of sportsmen. In 
the old countries the sports of the field are the 
prerogative of the wealthy class, but in a country where 
every man may be a sportsmen if so inclined, wealthy 
men are exceptional and those of moderate means the 
rule. 

Beagles are comparatively scarce here and but little 
used in the field, though they muster in some force at 
our shows. They were formerly used in England for 
hunting the hare, but now are worked on rabbits and 
followed on foot, affording good practice in running. 
They were originally bred very small, as are indeed the 
standard dogs of the day, though large ones are preferred 
for work over our rough ground. "Stonehenge" says: 
" Foot-beaofles should not much exceed nine inches in 
height, but for Young England they are often used up 



22 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

to eleven and even twelve inches, going a pace which 
requires a good runner in prime condition, to keep up 
with them." One famous pack mentioned by both 
"Stonehenge" and "Idstone"as, in the words of the 
latter, "the best pack probably ever seen or bred" 
belongs to Mr. Crane of Southover House, near Dorset, 
whose standard is nine inches. These little fellows are 
fast workers, seldom failing to kill their rabbit in from 
five to seven minutes. They have full, rich voices, and 
the keenest of noses, seldom being thrown out by any 
disadvantage of ground or circumstances, In the days of 
Queen Bess, Beagles were bred as small as possible, and 
it is said a pack could be carried in a man's glove. This 
is, of course, only a figure of speech, but there was 
actually a well-known pack that was transported from 
place to place in panniers. The small or dwarf Beagle 
should be a powerfully built clog with largely developed 
hindquarters, in fact, a miniature fox-hound. The 
measurements of Damper, a model dog from Mr. 
Crane's pack, are as follows: height, nine inches; round 
the chest, sixteen inches; across the ears, twelve inches; 
extreme length, twenty eight inches ; from eye to nose, 
two and one-eighth inches. In color there is no fixed 
rule, though the blue mottle of the Harrier is a great 
favorite, as are also the yellow or hare pies. It is, 
however, essential to breed for qualities, and to do this 
no particular color can be insisted on. 

Dachshunds are so few in numbers they can hardly 
be said to hold a place among our field dogs, yet cannot 
be entirely ignored, as they are exhibited at the princi- 
pal shows, and are used to some extent in the field. It 



SOME SPORTING BREEDS. 



is claimed they possess extremely keen noses and great 
stoutness in pursuit of game, which from their lack of 
speed they are well fitted to drive to the gun. They 
are dogs of peculiar formation, being extremely long in 
body and low on the legs. The front legs are, in the 
pure varieties, so crooked that the feet stand out, giving 
them a very ungainly appearance in motion. At home 
they are used to drive badgers out of their holes, and 
in England they have been tried on both badgers and 
foxes, but by many good judges, are not considered 
equal to terriers for this work. In this country they 
are used for rabbit hunting. 



24 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



CHAPTER II. 

WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DOG. 

HOWEVER much critics may differ upon minor 
points there can be no doubt of their all agreeing 
that the essential points of a good dog are nose, staunch- 
ness, pace, endtt7'a7ice, intelligence and high breeding. 
These must be present in the highest degree of perfec- 
tion, and are each of such primary importance that the 
absence of either will at once stamp the dog as an 
inferior animal. It is impossible, provided these quali- 
ties exist in a proportionate and well-balanced degree, 
that any animal can be too largely endowed with them ; 
but this perfect combination is a thing of rare attainment, 
and hence it is that so many fall short of the standard of 
excellence. A brief consideration of each point will 
soon satisfy all of the importance of these qualities, and 
show how great are the requirements of a perfect 
animal. 

NOSE. 

By nose'is meant that keen and sensitive condition of 
the olfactory nerves which enables the dog to snuff "the 
tainted gale," and follow the unseen trail of the skulking 
grouse or cock to the very spot where it lies hid. To 
do this under favorable conditions of wind and ground 
is an easy task, and one that an ordinary animal can 



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WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DOG. 25 



accomplish ; but when these conditions are not present 
and the ground and wind bear a faint and baffling scent, 
an acuteness of perceptive faculty is required, belonging 
only to the superior dog. To deserve such a high rep- 
utation a dog must be able to catch the faintest taint 
while going at full speed up or across the wind, to detect 
at once the presence of a close-lying bevy or a single 
bird, and to locate it with certainty. In snipe-shooting 
many men beat their ground down wind, as by doing so 
they get easier shots, and here instead of being a help 
to the dog, each puff of wind is a disadvantage ; yet with 
a good nose he will pick out and point his birds in front 
or on either hand with the same certainty that he would 
if the wind was full in his face. The manner in which 
a dog carries his nose is far from an unimportant matter, 
since what avails it that the nose be naturally good, pro- 
vided it is so carried that its power cannot be brought 
into play? In this connection experience has taught 
us two things, viz : First, that as the scent naturally rises, 
and is the strongest in the air, a high-headed dog can 
wind a bird much farther than the low-headed one that 
follows by foot trail. Second, that where birds are wild, 
the dog that carries his nose up, drawing the scent 
directly from the body of the bird, can approach much 
nearer to the game than the dog that roads it up. So 
marked have been the proofs of this, that 'Tow nose, no 
nose " has become with many sportsmen an accepted 
rule, to which the few exceptions furnish corroborative 
testimony. From these facts it becomes evident that 
to take a high rank for nose, style of carriage is justly 
regarded as a very important point ; and I am satisfied 



26 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



that all sportsmen who like myself have followed the 
dogs on bad scenting days over rough mountain ridges 
after the lordly ruffed grouse, and who have seen some 
cautious high-headed setter get point after point before 
his lower-headed companion, will join me in upholding 
a rule which forms the best standard for the selection of 
animals worthy of the breaker's time and trouble. 

STAUNCHNESS. 

After the ability to find game, comes that staunchness 
or retention of point which allows the sportsman to reap 
the reward of his arduous labors. How aptly come now 
to mind the words I have already quoted, ''then shall 
your setter stick" — yes, stand firm as a rooted pine, 
fixed and immovable. The beauty of such a point with 
all its attractive details of attitude, rigid, yet thrilling 
and quivering with latent life ; its expression eloquent 
with mingled excitement, caution and pleasure, as the 
hot scent is eagerly drunk up by the broad expanded 
nostrils, would furnish a fitting subject for the artist's 
pencil if it was not far beyond the power of any pencil, 
even that of England's great master of animal painters. 

Inspiring as such a spectacle is, the practical benefits 
of thorough staunchness are of much more consequence, 
as without this quality the setter or pointer is no better 
than the spaniel, if as good. In working up and finding 
game, especially in small patches of thick cover, a good 
spaniel will undoubtedly find as many birds as either ; 
but as he makes no point, many shots are lost from the 
inability of the shooter to get a favorable position before 
starting his bird. With a thoroughly staunch and relia- 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DOG. 27 



ble setter I think more ruffed grouse can be brought to 
bag than over any other dog Hving. This bird, from 
his extreme wildness, requires more care on the part of 
the dog than any other, and I have spent many days in 
the woods with spaniels when I could scarcely get a shot, 
while with a well-broken setter, that would stand the 
moment he caught the scent, and at the word crawl slow- 
ly and with frequent pauses up to the bird, I have made 
good bags over the same ground whereon I had form- 
erly failed. I do not think it possible for a dog to be 
too staunch, though I have seen some that were very diffi- 
cult to break from this very quality, as it was almost im- 
possible to make them leave the first point and move up 
to the bird. Experience and good handling will however 
teach an intelligent dog to modify this super staunch- 
ness without running into the opposite extreme, and 
thus modified, it is of the highest value. Probably no 
dog ever had staunchness so largely developed as the old 
Spanish pointer, which "Idstone" says (quoting from 
the Sporting Magazine) has been known to stand "for 
as many as twelve hours ;" and in another place he speaks 
of an instance related to him by a reliable witness, who 
"came upon a dog which had been frozen dead upon his 
point, probably being overlooked or lost by his owner 
towards the decline of day ; but there was the poor 
victim, stark and dead — a martyr to his profession, a 
victim to his training and culture." It is true that our 
dogs do not make such lasting points as this ; and, 
indeed, it would be the height of cruelty to try a dog in 
such a manner; But we have dogs staunch enough for 
all practical purposes, and during my own experience I 



28 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



can recall many cases where dogs have been lost in thick 
cover and found perhaps an hour afterwards, standing 
staunchly. I also once owned a black and blue dog 
that I do not think could be induced by any means to 
break his point after once reaching his bird. I tried to 
teach him to put up his birds at the word, but in vain, 
for rather than go on he would charge to point — this 
was, however, only the case with birds that had not been 
fired at, as I had no trouble in making him retrieve a 
dead or wounded bird even after pointing it. . 

Of such absolute importance do I consider staunch- 
ness, that if I had a dog which possessed in an eminent 
degree every other qualification but was unreliable in 
this respect I would not give him kennel room. I have 
frequently heard men (who, to do them justice, were 
good shots,) say that they did not care to have a dog 
stand any longer than just to show that he had found ; 
but I still say that when I do not care to have a dog 
stand I will take up with a spaniel, for so long as I 
follow a setter I want him to show this most beautiful 
and convincing proof of his ancient and royal blood. 



PACE. 



Pace is but another name for the speed which a dog 
exhibits in beating his ground. Within proper bounds 
it is in the highest degree essential, because it saves the 
sportsman both time and labor in filling his bag. With 
a slow dog, the gun must either follow all over a field 
or wait at the end of the beat till the potterer has come 
up. Any one who has seen a fine, high-couraged dog 
hunting at a slashing gallop, losing no time over blank 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DOG. 29 

ground, but speeding on to the corner where the bevy- 
lies hid, and there finding his birds in half the time 
his slow brother would consume, will fully appreciate 
the difference in style of the two systems. In shooting 
pinnated grouse upon the prairies we find a sport which 
more than any other upon this continent, resembles 
foreign grouse-shooting ; and here, from the wide range 
of country to be beaten, we need pace to get over 
the ground. The same may be said of snipe and quail- 
shooting in an extensive open country, but where the 
fields are small, or for cover work, a high rate of speed 
is undesirable. In hunting woodcock and ruffed grouse 
in close cover, the dog must, as a rule, keep within 
shot of the gun, for beyond this he will be liable to be 
lost when standing, to say nothing of causing the loss 
of all shots at birds which rise wild or will not lie to 
point. Up to a certain limit then, pace is a consumma- 
tion devoutly to be wished for; but decidedly there are 
limits which cannot be passed without entailing a greater 
loss than gain. As, for example, a prominent English 
breeder says he "does not want a dog that will find the 
greatest number of birds in a given piece of ground, but 
one that will find the greatest number in a day." 
Virtually this means that he considers it of no con- 
sequence if the dog runs into or by a part of a scattered 
pack, provided he has speed enough to find a fresh pack 
quickly. This may do for field trials, or even on well- 
stocked ground, but it will not do for general work In 
this country, as game Is none too plentiful, and our 
sportsmen especially need a dog that will find single 
birds after a bevy has been broken up; and a dog which 



JO AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



goes SO fast that he over-runs close-lying birds or flushes 
those he would point if slower, is worthless and as a 
practical worker will be beaten out of sight by those 
of more moderate pace. 

Our field trial rules with their large allowance of 
points for pace, together with \he writings of profess- 
ional breakers who have made reputations by running 
fast dogs under those rules, are fostering a craze for 
excessive speed all over the country, which cannot fail to 
be highly detrimental to the interests of some sections. 
Speed should be proportional to the kind of work done 
and the character of the country hunted. With birds 
that must be cautiously approached, a slashing style of 
going is fatal to sport, so too in a country of small in- 
cisures, all speed in excess to that necessary to 
thoroughly cover the ground, is not only useless but 
also an unnecessary tax upon the dog's powers, and a 
direct promoter of evil habits, as when the field has been 
gone over, the dog while waiting for the gun must 
either work it a second time, lie down, or poke about the 
fence corners. In a prairie country, speed within the 
bounds of endurance is an advantage, but all our 
shootine is not done on such orround, and field trials 
which are conducted by a National Club, and presumably 
in the interests of the entire country, should not be so 
run that they tend to promote the breeding of dogs 
good only in certain sections. It is but a short time since 
a well known New England Sportman, and the owner of 
a noted field trial crack, wrote me in regard to the 
selection of a dog. " While you and I would not give 
a cent for a flyer for work, the rules governing speed at 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DOCx. 



trials are such that only a flyer has any chance." Thus 
we see, men who shoot In a country where dogs of 
moderate pace are better than any others, are forced, if 
they wish to take part in trials, to own dogs they have 
no other use for, and which they must keep simply as 
kennel celebrities or take to the prairies for work. 
Luxuries which only rich men can afford. 

If this was the only evil resulting from the trial rules 
it could be endured, because those who do not want 
flyers could keep away from trials, but it is only one evil 
and not the greatest, for the reputation of winning 
makes the dog sought for in the stud, and he gives to 
his progeny the speed which so largely contributed to 
his success. The progeny are sold all over the country, 
and men who, from lack of experience in breaking, can- 
not control the natural tendency to fast wide range, 
find they have dogs on their hands they cannot break, 
and as a natural consequence give them up and will 
have nothing more to do with the breed, believing the 
cause of their disappointment peculiar to the strain. 
The great majority of our trial runners are recent im- 
portations or their direct descendants. They are the 
best bred dogs in the country, so that the rules which tend 
to induce breeding for speed, tend as directly to pre- 
vent the spread of this pure blood in those sections 
where speed is not wanted. 

Another bad result, not less certain in the future, is 
loss of endurance, for though a few individuals may 
be able to endure the strain of going fast and long, 
such ability is as exceptional in dogs as in other animals. 
In breeding for any one quality others must necessarily 



32 ■ AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



be sacrificed to it, unless a special effort is made to 
breed them up also. To breed a dog that is a combina- 
tion of good qualities, is much more difficult than to 
breed with a single quality, and this extra effort will 
not be made unless it is encouraged by some competi- 
tion where it will help to win. Field trials cannot be 
made tests of endurance, and thus the present ruling 
tends directly to induce breeding for the quality most 
destructive to endurance without affording any compen- 
sation. The result of such action cannot be a matter 
of doubt, and must be that which I have indicated. 



ENDURANCE. 



Upon a dog's power of endurance practically de- 
pends his usefulness in the field, since no matter what 
his other qualities may be, if he has not the ability to 
stand work he cannot display those qualities to any ad- 
vantage. If we may judge of the condition of things 
abroad, by the assertions of English writers, we are 
justified in thinking that most breeders there have 
developed pace at the expense of staying powers as it 
is well known it is customary to work one brace or team 
of dogs in the morning and another in the afternoon. 
This may be well enough for foreign sportsmen, who 
have large kennels at their command, but it would soon 
put an end to sport in this country, where a majority of 
men own but one dog, and frequently require him to 
work two or three weeks in succession. In speaking 
of the most convenient, because most distinguishable, 
color for a dog, " Idstone " says : " This, however, is 
certain, that wide rangers are often lost on a dark moor 




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WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DOG. 



33 



and on a hazy day, and the sportsman's sight is frequent- 
ly damaged by the constant watching of his scarcely 
visibly leash of pointers." The speed with which such 
dogs hunt can be estimated if we consider after pointing 
their game staunchly till the gun comes up, they are 
then expected to again make themselves "scarcely visible" 
as soon as possible ; and this to be repeated as often as 
they find game. Such work would wear out anything ; 
and as a dog is at best only a highly-trained organism 
of bones, muscles and sinews, it must be expected that 
a very few hours of such tremendous exertion will bring 
him to a stand-still, without he is possessed of endurance 
of a very high order. 

It is but common justice for me to say that all dogs 
bred abroad are not lacking in endurance, for there are 
many gentlemen in this country who will bear out the 
assertion, that the Llewellins possess this to a rare 
degree, and there are doubtless others which are hardy 
and enduring, but too many at least are lacking in this 
essential quality. Nowhere is endurance more impor- 
tant than in this country, owing to the amount of work 
demanded from our dogs, so that it is specially necessary 
to restrain the desire for speed within reasonable bounds, 
and to breed for the qualities that promote staying 
powers. The qualities upon which this depends are 
good constitutions and strong vigorous frames, but even 
with these given, they must be kept in condition by 
proper attention to exercise at all times, since no matter 
how hardy the dog may naturally be, his ability to hunt 
day after day is contingent upon his muscles being 
firmly strung, his wind clear, and his feet so hardened 



34 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

that they will not become sore from contact with rough, 
uneven surfaces, and this can only be induced by a sys- 
tematic course of regular exercise. A dog without 
thorough endurance is not worth his keep for either field 
or stud purposes; but it is rank injustice to condemn an 
animal before pausing to consider whether the fault be 
his own or his master's. I have already shown that 
pace can be cultivated to a degree far in excess of the 
true balance, but the same cannot be said of endurance. 
No dog can by any possibility carry this to an undue 
extent, or become too strong and tireless. Every ad- 
ditional day that he is able to work adds to rather than 
detracts from his value ; and he is indeed a fortunate 
man who owns a dog for whom no day is so long or 
hard that he will not give the gun a joyous welcome on 
the succeeding morning. 

INTELLIGENCE. 

The ability of the dog to acquire quickly and retain 
his breaking is a matter of great importance, since it not 
only facilitates the breaker's work, but also allows him to 
carry it to a far greater extent than where this talent is 
absent. There are as widely different degrees of intelli- 
gence between dogs as between members of the human 
family, but I think I am safe in claiming that, as a rule^ 
highly-bred dogs possess greater Intelligence than their 
plebeian brothers. It is generally claimed that a dog 
does not possess reasoning power, but that his actions 
are purely Instinctive ; yet we often witness exhibitions 
of a faculty which trenches so closely upon the bounda- 
ries of the nobler attribute that it is hard to say where 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DOG. 



the dividing line is drawn. It is this capacity for ap- 
preciating and combining facts which enables the intelli- 
gent dog to acquire such a knowledge of the habits and 
nature of his game that he is often able to outwit the 
bird by a display of superior tactics. An ordinary dog 
soon learns to follow a trail till the bird flushes or lies 
to point ; but it requires a higher order of intellect to 
prompt a dog voluntarily to head a running bird so as 
to get It between himself and the gun. A truly in- 
telligent dog is constantly advancing ; his instinct or 
mind never rests, but goes on adding to its store of ex- 
periences, so that when any emergency arises he is pre- 
pared to meet it with a corresponding action unerringly 
directed towards the attainment of success. 

That most eloquent of sporting writers, Herbert, 
known to the craft as ** Frank Forrester," in speaking 
of breeding, said : " In all animals, from man down to 
the bullock aad Berkshire hog I am an implicit believer 
In the efficacy of blood and breeding to develop all 
qualities, especially courage to do, and courage to bear, 
as well as to produce the highest and most delicate 
nervous organization ; and I would as willingly have a 
cur in my shooting kennel as a mule in my racing stable, 
If I had one." In this theory Herbert Is thoroughly 
supported by all experienced breeders. " Blood will tell" 
Is not more an old saying than a positive fact, and 
though there Is no rule without its exceptions, there 
are probably fewer exceptions to this than to any other. 

By -delicate nervous organization Is not meant a lack 
of strength, but that keen faculty of perception and ap- 
preciation which is essentially Intelligence, so that if 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



blood, according to Forrester, gives the one, it as 
certainly induces the other. 




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SELECTING A DOG. 



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CHAPTER III. 

POINTS IN SELECTING A DOG. 

IN selecting an unbroken dog only blood and points 
of form can be considered, but in purchasing one that 
is broken, the field quality should also be tested. At 
first sight it may seem that form should rank before 
blood, but I think not, because through pure blood we 
get a guaranty of field quality, which will, in a majority 
of cases, be fully sustained when the dog comes to 
be broken, and again, though good form is highly essen- 
tial, it cannot be depended upon to reproduce itself 
unless backed by blood, A degenerate whelp or an ill 
formed one may indeed occasionally appear in the 
progeny of pure blooded parents, but even with such 
there is a probability that his off-spring will be better 
than himself, upon the principle that " blood will tell ;" 
while with a well formed but ill bred dog, the field 
quality will be doubtful, and the progeny as likely to 
throw back and display the characteristics of the coarse 
breeding as to take after their well-formed parent. 

In choosing a dog the first thing to be considered 
then is blood, no matter whether it is expected he will 
ever be bred from or not. I suppose all who sell dogs 
have, more or less frequently, received letters from par- 
ties who wish to purchase ; but say they " do not care for 
a finely bred dog, as they only want him for work and 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



not to breed." Whatever may be the expectation, I 
claim that a buyer cannot afford to buy any but a well 
bred animal, with regard to his own Interest, because he 
gets In such, a greater certainty of working qualities, 
and as the records show the majority of trial winners 
have been purely bred, he will naturally get better 
qualities than from a dog of coarse breeding. Many 
men who write as above are Influenced by the price of 
fine blooded dogs, but It Is certainly poor economy to 
buy a low priced one, that will probably prove a disap- 
pointment In the end, than to pay a fair price at first. 
Good dogs can now be bought at reasonable rates, 
thoupfh of course somewhat hio;her than those which 
have nothing to recommend them command, but If two or 
three cheap dogs have to be bought before one of work- 
ing qualities Is got, the aggregate price is higher than 
that of a good one, and besides this loss In money, there 
is also the loss of time spent in rearing or testing failures. 
Further than this, even If by a lucky chance the first 
cheap purchase proves to be of average goodness, the 
owner will some day fall in with a friend who owns a well 
bred dog of that average goodness, and then If the princi- 
ple proved by trial records is sustained, the cheap dog will 
be badly beaten. No man with proper pride likes 
to be beaten by his fellows; I do not mean by this 
that he should be grasping or selfish, or even that 
he should not take a beating in good part, but merely that 
proper spirit will prompt him to hold his own by 
every possible manly effort, and the shock of defeat 
with the consciousness that by a little more outlay he 
could probably have made a far better showing, is neither 



SELECTING A DOG. 



39 



trifling nor short-lived. 

When purchasing a dog, whether young or matured, 
the buyer should if possible, give it a personal inspection. 
If he is properly acquainted with the points of the 
breed, he can satisfy himself and thus avoid possible 
disappointment if the choice is left to another, but 
where such inspection is impossible, care must be taken 
to deal only with reliable parties; men who have char- 
acter at stake, and who cannot afford to sacrifice it by 
misrepresentation or fraud. If the parties are unknown 
to each other, the buyer will be justified in asking refer- 
ences, and no seller with proper appreciation of what is 
due to others will be offended by such request. If the 
dog or whelp is reported to be by some well known 
stock dog, the buyer should by all means ascertain the 
truth of this, for there are many sales made every year 
upon the strength of entirely false pedigrees. A line 
to the owner of the sire will establish or disprove the 
pedigree very thoroughly. 

Where inspection is had, the dog should be criticised 
and compared with the accepted standard of his breed. 
For this to be possible, the buyer must be well posted 
upon the form, color and peculiarities of the strain. 
Color is so far as it goes, a good guide, but form is far 
better, as it is easy to see that a dog may be of good 
color, yet a poor specimen of his class, through failing to 
display correct form. Different breeds have their estab- 
ished colors ; by this, I do not mean the arbitrary show 
colors, but the colors of race. Show standards disqualify 
dogs not of fashionable marking, and there are cases 
where dogs have won in classes their own brothers could 



40 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



not compete In, thus proving that color and not blood 
was regarded. 

Between two dogs of equal merit and both of legiti- 
mate though different colors, choice may be fairly made 
of that which ranks highest in the show scale ; as, for ex- 
ample, pure Gordons display solid red and solid black as 
well as black and tan, so that the latter may be selected 
as giving a greater value to the dog through his elegi- 
bility to competition, where the others would be dis- 
qualified ; but color should never influence choice over 
form, and especially In the Gordons, as the reds and 
blacks will, from the prepotency of blood, produce black 
and tan progeny. As field dogs, the reds and blacks 
are fully equal to the others, so that color is of no ac- 
count in that connection. 

Color forms a standard so far as it does or does not 
belone to the breed under consideration ; that Is, no 
matter what the pedigree may show, the exhibition of a 
color which does not belong to the strain, furnishes the 
strongest evidence of an out-cross. Upon page 31, of 
"The Setter," Laverack says: "There is no better 
test of a pure breed of setters than a perfect uniformity 
of race; that is In color, form and coat, and never throw- 
Inof back to some other color and form unknown to the 
breeder." Variations in colo'r are accounted for by 
those who desire to sell off-colored dogs in various ways, 
the chief beine a throw back to some remote ancestor. 
This excuse may hold good in the case of dogs of mixed 
strains, like our so-called natives, but It Is not valid when 
applied to those which claim pure breeding, as the colors 
of such have been so long fixed that throwing back is 




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SELECTING A DOG. 41 



practically impossible. Mr. Laverack, himself, resorted 
to this excuse to explain the appearance of liver and 
white in Pride of the Border, and of red in the Mystery 
litter, claiming that Pride " stained back thirty-five or 
forty years, to the Edmond Castle blood," and that the 
reds threw back ninety years to one of the original dogs 
of the Rev. Mr. Harrison, from whom he obtained his 
breed ; but the evidence of his own words as above, and 
of his repeated attempts at crossing, together with the 
extreme improbability of straining back over such 
an interval, compelled the Committee of the English 
" Kennel Club," to pronounce the statements unreliable. 
No matter then what excuse may be offered for an out- 
color, it should not be accepted ; there are plenty of 
dogs to be had, both well formed and legitimately mark- 
ed, and there is therefore no reason \\^hy this serious im- 
perfection should be passed over any more than others. 
Color in Enorlish Setters is much more varied than 
in any other breed, all styles of marking being exhibited 
except the rich dark red of the Irish. A light red or 
yellow sometimes appears, and is deservedly ranked 
last in order of merit. The term Belton is now in 
common use, and by many persons is supposed to be 
typical of or confined to the Laveracks and their off- 
shoots. This is not the case, as many dogs exhibit it 
which have no connection with the Laverack blood. 
The term simply means a dog that is ticked or dotted 
with black or lemon. This ticking may either be in 
connection with patchs of color or it may constitute 
the entire coloring. It appears upon the face and legs 
even when absent from the body. Black and white 



42 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



dogs with tan markings are not Beltons though often so 
called. The black ticking constitutes the blue Belton, 
and the lemon, the lemon Belton. 

Instead of describing the different breeds of sporting 
dogs myself, I shall give the scale of points and form of 
each, taken from the third edition of Stonehenge's 
" Dogs of the British Isles," as this is accepted as the 
standard by which foreign shows are judged, and pre- 
sumably our own also, though from the latitude allowed 
judges in this country, by show commitees, the standard 
has been frequently ignored, resulting in the repeated 
placing of certain dogs, which if they were judged by 
the standard, would be considered anything but typical. 
Stonehenge says : "The English Setter may be taken 
as the true type of the breed, next to which comes the 
Irish Setter, while the old Llanidloes or Welsh breed 
retain more of the Spaniel character. Their curly 
water-proof coats are however admirably suited to the 
wet climate of their native hills. It is said, and I think 
probably with much truth, that the Scotch, or Gordon 
Setter is crossed with the bloodhound, which gives the 
comparatively heavy head and long folding ears often 
shown by him, and at the same time accounts for the 
delicacy of his nose and the coarseness of his coat. At 
all events, his appearance is not so typical as that of the 
Enorlish and Irish breeds. The Gordons are now 
usually described as black and tans, to avoid the disputes 
as to the breeding of the several entries, for while there 
is no doubt that many black and tans are not true Gor- 
dons, it is also indisputable that many true Gordons 
are black, white and tan. Similar remarks may apply 



SELECTING A DOG. 



43 



to the Irish Setter, but he has not been treated in the 
same way, though no doubt a red setter of EngHsh 
breed, without any Irish blood, if exhibiting the desired 
points in perfection, would win in an Irish class ; I must 
however take things as I find them, and describe the 
setter according to the definition given in our prize list, 
omitting the Welsh Setter, which is not of sufficient im- 
portance to interest any but the few possessors of him 
who remain." 

Stonehenge gives one table of points for all setters, 
and says: "The numerical value of the points in each 
breed is the same, though the description in several of 
them will vary, I therefore begin by allotting the follow- 
ing points to each, referring my readers to the three 
articles for their varying definitions." 

VALUE OF POINTS IN SETTER. 





VALUE. 


VALUE. 


Skull, - 


lO 


Shoulders and 


Nose, 


lO 


Chest, - - 15 


Ears, Lips and Eyes, 
Neck, 


4 
6 

30 


Back, Quarters - 

and Stifles, - 15 


30 




VALUE. 


VALUE. 


Legs, Elbows 

and Hocks, 
Feet, 


12 
- 8 


Flag, ... 5 
Symmetry and Quality, 5 
Texture of Coat and Feather, 5 
Color, - - - 5 




20 


20 


Grand 


Total, 


100. 



44 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



"The points of the Enghsh Setter maybe described 
as follows : 

" I — The shill, (value lo,) has a character pecuUar to itself, 
somewhat between that of the Pointer and Cocker Spaniel, not so 
heavy as the former and larger than the latter ; it is without the 
prominence of the occipital bone, so remarkable in the pointer, is also 
narrower between the ears, and there is a decided brow over the eyes. 

«' 2 — The nose, (value 5,) should be long and wide without any 
fullness under the eyes. There should be in the average dog setter 
at least four inches from the inner corner of the eye to the end of 
the nose. Between the point and the rest of the nose there should 
be a slight depression — at all events there should be no fullness — 
and the eye-brows should rise sharply from it. The nostrils must 
be wide apart and large in the openings, and the end should be 
moist and cool, though many a dog with exceptional good scent- 
ing powers has had a remarkably dry nose, amounting in some 
cases to roughriess like that of shagreen. In all setters the end of 
the nose should be black, or dark liver colored, but in the very best 
whites or lemon and whites, pink is often met with, and may in them 
be pardoned. The jaws should be exactly equal in length, a snipe 
nose or 'pig jaw' as the receding lower one in called, being greatly 
against its possessor." 

"3 — Ears, lips and eyes, (value 4,) with regard to the ears, 
they should be shorter than the pointer's and rounder, but not so much 
so as those of the Spaniel. The leather should be thin and soft, carried 
closely to the cheeks, so as not to show the inside, without the least 
tendency to prick the ear, which should be clothed with silky hair, 
little more than two inches in length. The lips also are not so full 
and pendulous as those of the Pointer, but at their angles there 
should be a slight fullness, not reaching quite to the extent of hang- 
ing. The eyes must be full of animation, and of medium size, the 
best color being a rich brown, and they should be set with their an- 
gles straight across." 

'' 4 — The neck (value 6,) has not the full round muscularity of 
the Pointer, being considerably thinner, but still slightly arched, and 
set into the head without that prominence of the occipital bone, 



SELECTING A DOG. 



45 



which is so remarkable in that dog. It must not be 'throaty' though 
the skin is loose." 

"5 — The shoulders and chest (value 15,) should display great 
liberty in all directions, with sloping deep shoulder blades and elbows 
well let down. The chest should be deep rather than wide, though 
Mr, Laverack, insists on the contrary formation, italicising the word 
wide, in his remarks on page 22, of his book. Possibly it may be 
owing to this formation that his dogs have not succeeded in any field 
trials, as above remarked ; for the bitches of his breed, notably 
Countess and Daisy, which I have seen, were as narrow as any set- 
ter breeder could desire ; I am quite satisfied that on this point Mr. 
•Laverack is altogether wrong. I fully agree with him, however, 
that the ribs should be well sprung behind the shoulder, and great 
depth of the back ribs should be specially demanded." 

"6 — Back quarters and stifles, (value 15,) An arched loin is 
desirable, but not to the extent of being 'roached' or 'wheel backed;' 
a defect which generally tends to a slow up and down gallop. Stifles 
well bent and set wide apart to allow the hind legs to be brought 
forward with liberty in the gallop." 

"7 — Legs elbows and hocks, (value 12,) the elbows and toes, 
which generally go together, should be set straight ; and if not, the 
'pigeon toe' or inturned leg is less objectionable than the out-turned, 
in which the elbow is confined by its close attachment to the ribs. 
The arm should be muscular and the bone fully developed, with 
strong and broad knees, short pasterns, of which the size in point of 
bone should be as great as possible, (a very important point) and 
their slope not exceeding a very slight deviation from the straight 
line. Many good judges insist upon a perfectly upright pastern, 
like that of the fox hound ; but it must not be forgotten that the 
setter has to stop himself suddenly, when at full stretch he catches 
scent, and to do this with an upright rigid pastern, causes a consider- 
able strain on the ligaments, soon ending in 'knuckling over' hence 
a very slight bend is to be preferred. The hind legs should be 
muscular, with plenty of bone, clean strong hocks and hairy feet." 

<' 8 — The feet, (value 8,) should be carefully examined, as up» 
on their capability of standing wear and tear depends the utility of 
the dog. A great difference of opinion exists as to the comparative 



46 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

merits of the cat and hare foot for standing work. Fox hound 
masters, invariably select that of the cat, and as they have better 
opportunities than any other class for instituting the necessary com- 
parison, their selection may be accepted as final. But as setters are 
specially required to stand wet and heather, it is imperatively neces- 
sary that there should be a good growth of hair between the toes, 
and on this account a hare foot, well clothed with hair, as it generally 
is, must be preferred to a cat foot, naked as is often the case, except 
on the upper surface." 

"9 — The Jlag, (value 5,) is in appearance very characteristic of 
the breed, although it sometimes happens that one or two puppies in 
a well bred litter exhibit a curl or other malformation, usually con- 
sidered to be indicative of a stain. It is often compared to a scimetar, 
but ?t resembles it only in respect of its narrowness, the amount of 
curl in the blade of this Turkish weapon being far too great to make 
it the model of the setter's flag. Again it has been compared to a 
comb ; but as combs are usually straight, here again this simile fails, 
as the setter's flag should have a gentle sweep ; and the nearest re- 
semblence to any familiar form is to the scythe, with its curve reversed. 
The feather must be composed of straight silky hairs, and beyond 
the root the less r.hort hair on the flag the better, especially towards 
the point, of which the tone should be fine and the feather tapering 
with it." 

" 10 — Symmetry and qimlity, (value 5,) In character the setter 
should display a great amount of quality, a term which is difficult 
of explanation, though fully appreciated by all experienced sportsmen. 
It means a combination of symmetry, as understood by the artist, 
with the peculiar attributes of the breed under consideration as inter- 
peted by the sportsman. Thus a setter possessed of such a frame 
and outline as to charm an artist, would be considered by the 
sportsman, defective in 'quality' if he possessed a curly or harsh 
coat, or if he had a heavy head with pendant blood-hound like 
jaws and throaty neck. The general outline is very elegant, and 
more taking to the eye of the artist than that of the pointer." 

"it — The. texture 3ir\.6. feather oi codit, (values,) are much re- 
garded among setter breeders, a soft silky hair without curl being 
considered a sifte qita non. The feather should be considerable and 



SELECTING A DOG. 47 



should fringe the hind as well as fore legs." 

"12 — The color of coat, (value 5,) is not much insisted on 
among English Setters, a great variety being admitted. They are 
now generally classed as follows, in the order given : i — Black and 
white ticked with large splashes and more or less marked with black, 
known as blue Belton ; 2 — Orange and white freckled, known as 
orange Belton ; 3 — Plain orange, or lemon and white ; 4 — Liver 
and white ; 5 — Black and white, with slight tan markings ; 6 — Black 
and white ; 7 — Liver and white ; 8 — Pure white ; 9 — Black ; 
10 — Liver; ii — Red or yellow." 

In quoting the colors as above, I wish to call atten- 
tion to an evident error, viz : the repetition of liver and 
white, at numbers 4 and 7. Liver and white is, I know, 
classed after the black and white, hence I think 4 should 
be lemon and white, as distinguished from 3, that being 
orange or dark lemon, while the true lemon and white 
is of a paler shade. 

"In Points the Irish setter only differs from the 
Engflish In the followina-;" 

" I — The skull is somewhat longer and narrower, the eyebrows 
being well raised, and the occipital prominence as marked as in the 
Pointer." 

" 2 — The nose, is a trifle longer with good width, and square at 
the end ; nostrils wide and open, with the nose itself of a deep 
mahogany or very dark fleshy color, not pink nor black." 

'' 3 — The eyes, ears and lips: — The eyes should be a rich brown 
or mahogany color, well set and full of intelligence ; a pale or goose- 
berry eye is to be avoided. Ears long enough to reach within half 
an inch or an inch of the end of the nose, and though more tapering 
than the English dog, never coming to a point ; they should be set 
low and close, but well back, and not approaching to the hound in 
setting and leather, whiskers red ; lips deep but not pendulous." 

"•5 and 6 — \vl frame the Irish dog is higher on the leg than 
either the English or black and tan, but his elbows are well let down 



nevertheless ; his shoulders are long and sloping ; frisket deep, but 
never wide ; and his back ribs are somewhat shorter than those of 
his English brethern. Loin good, slightly arched and well coupled 
to his hips, but not very wide ; quarters slightly sloping and flag set 
on rather low, but straight, fine in bone and beautifully carried. 
Breeders are, however, going for straight backs like that of Palmers- 
ton, with flags set on as high as in the English Setter." 

'*7 — Legs very straight, with good hocks, well bent stifles, and 
muscular but not heavy haunches." 

"8 — The /tr/ are hare like, and moderately hairy between the 
toes." 

"9 — Theyfa^ is clothed with a long straight comb of hair, never 
bushy or curly, and this is beautifully displayed on the point." 

" 1 1 — The coat should be somewhat coarser than that of the 
English Setter, being midway between that and the black and tan, 
wavy but not curly, and by no means long. Both hind and fore legs 
are well feathered, but not profusely, and the ears are furnished with 
feather to the same extent, with a slight wave but no curl." 

" 12 — The color should be a rich blood red, without any trace of 
black on the ears or along the back ; in many of the best strains 
however, a pale color or an occasional tinge of black is shown. A 
little white on the neck, breast or toes is by no means objectionable, 
and there is no doubt that the preponderance of white, so as to con- 
stitute what is called white and red, is met with in some good 
strains." 

" The points of the black and tan setter are very 
nearly the same as those of the English dog, the only 
deviations being as follows :" 

" I — The skull is usually a little heavier than that of the English 
setter, but in other respects it resembles it." 

'* 2 — The nose also is like the English setter ; but it is usually 
a trifle wider. 

" 9 — The flag is usually a trifle shorter than that of the English 
setter, which it otherwise resembles in shape. 

" II — The coat is generally harder and coarser than that of the 



a 



tSL M 




to * 

H 



H-1 



SELECTING A DOG. 



49 



English or Irish setter, occasionally with a strong disposition to curl 
as in the celebrated champions Reuben and Regent." 

" 12 — The color is much insisted on. The black should be rich 
without mixture with the tan, and the latter should be a deep 
mahogany red, without any tendency to fawn. It is admitted that 
the original Gordons were often black, tan and white ; but as in all our 
shows the classes are limited to black-tan, the long arguments which 
have been adduced on that score are now obsolete. A little white on 
the chest or a white toe or two are not objected to ; but a decided frill 
is considered, by most judges, to be a blemish. The red-tan should 
be shown on lips, cheeks, throat, spot over the eyes, fore legs nearly 
up to the elbows, hind legs up to the stifles, and on the under side 
of the flag, but not running into its long hair." 

Such are the descriptions given of the three s^reat 
divisions of the setter family, by Stonehenge, the nu- 
merical value of Points being the same in each. The 
differences apart from color are not very great, but they 
are highly important as they constitute the characteristic 
marks of each breed, and should therefore never be 
overlooked or confused. 

The numerical value oi points of the Pointer is the 
same as those of Setters, except that symmetry and 
quality are rated at 7, and texture of coat at 3, both 
rating at 5, in Setters. 

" Describing them in detail they are as follows :" 

*' I — The skull, (value 10.) should be of good size, but not as 
heavy as the old Spanish Pointer, and in a lesser degree his half- 
bred descendants. It should be wider across the ears than that of 
the setter, with a forehead rising well at the brows. A full develop- 
ment of the occipital protuberance is indispensable, and the upper 
surface should be in two slightly rounded flats with a narrow furrow 
between." 

" 2 — The nose^ (value 10) should be long (4 inches to 4f inches) 



50 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



and broad with widely open nostrils. The end must be moist, and 
in health is cold to the touch. It should be black or very dark brown, 
in all but the lemon and whites ; but in them it may be a deep flesh 
color. It should be cut off square and not pointed — known as the 
'snipe nose' or 'pig jaw' — Teeth meeting evenly." 

" 3 — The ears, eyes and lips, (value 4,) are as follows : ears soft 
in coat, moderately long and thin in leather, not folding like the 
hounds, but lying flat and close to the cheeks, and set on low with- 
out any tendency to prick. Eyes soft and of medium size ; color 
brown, varying in shade with that of the coat. Lips well developed, 
and frothing when at work, but not pendant or flew-like." 

" 4 — The neck, (value 6,) should be arched towards the head, long 
and round, without any approach to dewlap or throatiness. It must 
come out with a graceful sweep from between the shoulder-blades." 

"5 — The shoulders and chest (value 15,) are dependent upon 
each other for their formation. Thus a wide and hooped chest can- 
not have the blades lying flat against its sides ; and consequently 
instead of this and their sloping backwards, as they ought to do in 
order to give free action, they are upright, short and fixed. Of 
course a certain width is required to give room for the lungs ; but 
the volume required should be obtained by depth rather than width. 
Behind the blades the ribs should, however, be well arched, but still 
deep ; this depth of back rib is specially important. 

"6 — The back, quarters and stifles (value 15,) constitute the main 
propellers of the machine, and on their proper development, the 
speed and power of the dog depend. The loin should be very 
slightly arched and full of muscle, which should run well over the 
back ribs ; the hips should be wide, with a tendency to ragged- 
ness, and the quarters should droop very slightly from them. These 
last must be full of firm muscle, and the stifles should be well bent 
and carried widely apart, so as to allow the hind legs to be brought 
well forward in the gallop, instituting a form of action which does 
not tire." 

''7 — Legs, elbows and hocks, (value 12.) These chiefly bony 
parts, though truely the levers by which the muscles act, must be 
strong enough to bear the strain given them ; and this must act in 
the straight line of progression. Substance of bone is therefore de- 



manded, not only in the shanks, but in the joints, the knees and 
hocks being specially required to be bony. The elbows should be 
well let down, giving a long upper arm, and should not be turned 
in or out ; the latter being, however, the lesser fault of the two, as 
the confined elbows limits the action considerably. The reverse is 
the case with the hocks, which may be turned in rather than out, the 
former being generally accompanied by that wideness of stifles 
which I have already insisted on. Both hind and fore pasterns 
should be short, nearly upright and full of bone." 

"S — The/^^/, (value 8,) are all important; for however fast 
and strong the action may be, if the feet are not well shaped and 
their horny covering hard, the dog will soon become foot sore when 
at work, and will then refuse to leave his master's heels, however high 
his courage may be. Breeders have long disputed the comparatively 
good qualities of the round cat-like foot, and the long one, resem- 
bling that of the hare. In the Pointer, my own opinion is in favor 
of the cat foot, with the toes well arched and c/ose togeiher. This is 
the desideratum of the M. F. H., and I think stands work better 
than the hare foot, in "which the toes are not arched, but still lie close 
together. In the Setter the greater amount of hair, to a certain ex- 
tent, condones the inherent weakness of the hare foot ; but in the 
Pointer no such superiority can be claimed. The main point, how- 
ever is the closeness of the pads, combined with the thickness of its 
horny covering." 

"9 — The^fern, (value 5,) must be strong in bone, at the root, 
but it should at once be reduced in size as it leaves the body, and 
then gradually taper to a point, like a bee's sting. It should be very 
slightly curved, carried a little above the line of the back, and with- 
out the slightest approach to curl at the tip." 

"10 — Of symmetry and quality, (value 7,) the Pointer should 
display a good proportion, no dog showing more difference between 
the gentleman and his opposite. It is impossible to analyse these es- 
sentials, but every good judge carries the knowledge with him." 

^'ii — The Texture, (value 5,) of the coat in the Pointer should 
be soft and mellow, but not absolutely silky." 

"12 — \xi color, (values,) there is now little choice in point of 
fashion, between the liver and lemon and whites. After them 



52 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



come the black and whites, (with or without tan,) then the pure 
black, and lastly the pure liver. Dark liver ticked, is perhaps the 
most beautiful color of all to the eye." 



" POINTS 


OF THE 


FIELD SPANIEL. 




J VALUE. 




VALUE, 




VALUE 


Head, - - 15 


Length, - 


- 5 


Color, - 


- 5 


Ears, - 5 


Legs, 


10 


Coat, 


10 


Neck, - - 5 


Feet, 


10 


Tail, - 


- 10 


Chest, Back and 






Symmetry, 


5 


Loins, - - 20 










45 


25 


30 


Granc 


I Total, 


- 


100. 





" I — The head, (value 15,) should be long with a marked brow, 
but still only gradually rising from the nose, and occipital protuber- 
ance well defined. Nose long and broad, without any tendency to 
the snipe form. Eye expressive, soft and gentle, but not too full or 
watery." 

"2 — The ears, (value 5,) should be set on low down, lobular 
in shape, not over long in the leather, or too heavily clothed with 
feather, which should always be wavy and free from ringlets." 

"3 — T\\& neck, (values,) should be long enough to reach the 
ground easily, strong and arched, coming easily out of well shaped 
shoulders." 

*'4 — Chest, back and loins, (value 20.) The chest should be 
deep and with a good girth ; back and loins full of muscle, and 
running well into one another, with wide couplings and well turned 
hind-quarters." 

"5 — The length, (value 5,) of the Spaniel should be rather 
more than twice his height at the shoulders." 

"6 — The /<fj>, (value 10,) must be full of bone and straight; 
elbows neither in nor out ; quarters full of muscle, and stifles strong 
but not very much bent." 

''7 — l^\i% feet, (value 10,) are round and cat like, well clothed 
with hair between the toes, and the pads furnished with very thick 







m 



X X 

CO S 



CO 






SELECTING A DOG. 53 



horn." 

<'8 — T\\.& color, (values,) preferred is a brilliant black, but in 
the best strains of the dog an occasional liver or red puppy will 
appear." 

"9 — The coat, (value 10,) is flat, slightly wavy, soft and silky; 
the legs are well fringed or feathered like the Setter, as also are the 
ears ; there must Tdc no topknot or curl between the eyes, indi- 
cating a cross of the water Spaniel." 

"10 — The tail, (value 10,) which is always cropped short, must 
have a downward carriage, and should not be set on too high." 

" 1 1 — The symmetry^ (value 5,) of the Spaniel is considerable, 
and any departure from it should be penalised accordingly." 

" POINTS OF THE CLUMBER SPANIEL." 





VALUE. 




VALUE. 




VALUE. 


Head, - 


- 20 


Length, - 
'''Shoulders and 


■ 15 


Color, - 


- 5 


Ears, 


- 10 


Chest, - 
Back, - 


- 10 
10 


Coat, - 


■ 5 


Neck, - 


- 5 


Legs and Feet, 


15 


Stern, 


- 5 




35 


50 


15 




Grand Total, 


- 


100. 





« I — The head, (value 20.) The skull of this dog is large in all 
dimensions, being flat at the top, with a slight furrow down the 
middle, and a very large occipital protuberance. Sometimes this 
part is heavy in excess, but this is far better than the opposite ex- 
treme. The nose is very long and broad, with open nostils. The 
end should be of a dark flesh color, but even in the best strains it is 
sometimes of a cherry or light liver color. The eye is large and soft, 
but not watering." 

«2 — The mrj (value 10,) are peculiar in shape, as compared 
with other Spaniels, being setter-like or vine-shaped, and indicating 
that this kind of Spaniel is the original " Setting Spaniel " of olden 
times, now converted into the Setter. They are slightly longer than 



54 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

those of most setters and feathered, but not heavily, especially on the 
front edge." 

" 3 — The neck, (value 5,) is long and strong, but lean, and free 
from dewlap in front, where, however, there is a slight ruff of hair." 

"4 — In length, (value 15,) this Spaniel should be two and a half 
times his height." 

"5 — Good shoulders, (value 10,) are very important in so heavy 
a dog, who tires in any covert rather too soon, and with heavy should- 
ers drops into a walk after a single hour's work. The chest must 
also have a large girth." 

6 — A strong back and loin, (value 10,) are equally necessary, 
and for the same cause, the latter ought to be free from arch, as the 
back should be from droop, and the back ribs should be very deep." 

" 7 — The legs and feel, (value 15,) of the Clumber must be care- 
fully attended to, being of great importance to him in standing his 
work. He is very apt to be out at his elbows, from his width of 
chest, and occasionally his legs are bowed from rickets, to which 
disorder he is specially prone. These defects, when present, should 
be heavily penalised as they are faults of great importance." 

"8 — The color, (value 5,) is always white with more or less 
lemon : and when the latter is freckled over the face and legs the 
color is perfect. The face should always be white with a lemon head, 
and at the best a line of white down its middle." 

"9 — The coal, (value 5,) must be soft and silky, slightly wavy, 
aad though abundant, by no means long except in feather." 

"The slern, (value 5,) must be set low and carried considerably 
downward, especially when at work." 

" POINTS OF THE SUSSEX SPANIEL." 

VALUE. 

Skull, - - 15 Neck, 

Eyes, - 5 Shoulders and Chest, 10 

Nose, - - 10 Back and back ribs 

Ears, - 5 Legs and Feet, 



35 

Grand Total, 



VALUE. 


VALUE. 


5 


Tail, - - 10 


at, 10 


Color, - 10 


, 10 


Coat, - - 5 


10 


Symmetry, - 5 


35 


30 


100. 



SELECTING A DOG. 



55 



" I — 'I'he skull, (value 15,) should be long and also wide, with a 
deep indentation in the middle, and a full stop projecting well over 
the eyes ; occiput full, but not pointed ; the whole given the appear- 
ance of heaviness without dullness." 

"2 — The eyes, (value 5,) are full, soft and languishing, but not 
watering so as to stain the coat." 

"3 — The nose, (value 10,) should be long (3 to 3^ inches,) and 
broad, the end liver colored with large open nostrils." 

*'4 — The ears, (value 5,) are moderately long and lobe shaped — 
that is to say, narrow at the junction with the head, wider in the 
middle and rounded below, not pointed. They should be well 
clothed-with soft wavy and silky hair, but not heavily loaded with it." 

"5 — The neck, (value 5,) is rather short, strong and slightly 
arched, but not carrying the head much above the level of the back, 
There is no throatiness in the skin, but a well marked frill in the 
coat." 

"6 — Shoulders and chest, (value 10.) The chest is round, especi- 
ally behind the shoulders, and moderately deep, giving a good girth. 
It narrows at the shoulders, which are consequently oblique, though 
strong with full points, long arms and elbows well let down, and 
these last should not be turned out or in." 

" 7 — Back and back-ribs. The back or loin is long and should be 
very muscular, both in width and depth. For this latter develop- 
ment the back ribs must be very deep. The whole body is charac- 
terised low, long and strong." 

"8 — Legs diXid. feet, (value 10.) Owing to the width of chest, the 
fore legs of the Sussex Spaniel are often bowed ; but it is a defect 
notwithstanding, though not a serious one. The arms and thighs 
must be bony as well as muscular ; knees and hocks large, wide and 
strong. Fastens very short and bony ; feet round and toes well 
arched and clothed thickly with hair. The fore-legs should be well 
feathered all down, and the hind ones also, above the hocks, but 
should not have much hair below that point." 

"9 — The tail, (value 10,) is generally cropped and should be 
thickly clothed with hair, but not with long feather. The true 
Spaniel's low carriage of tail, at work, is well marked in this breed." 

<' 10 — The color, (value 10,) of the Sussex is a well marked but 



56 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIEED. 



not exactly rich golden liver, on which there is often a washed-out 
look that detracts from its richness. This color is often met with in 
other breeds, however, and is no certain sign of purity in the Sussex 
Spaniel." 

"11 — The coaf, (value 5,) is wavy without any curl, abundant, 
silky and soft." 

" 12 — The symmetry^ (value 5,) of the Sussex Spaniel is not very 
marked ; but he should not be devoid of this quality." 

" POINTS OF THE IRISH WATER SPANIEL." 

VALUE. VALUE. VALUE. 

Head, - - 10 Chest and Tail, - - 10 

Face and Eyes, 10 Shoulders, - 7^ Coat, - 10 

Topknot, - 10 Back and Quarters, 7^ Color, - 10 

Ears, - - 10 Tegs and Feet, 10 Symmetry, 5 



40 25 35 

Grand Total, - - lOO. 

" I — The head, (value 10,) is by no means long, with very little 
brow, but moderately wide. It is covered with curls, rather longer 
and more open than those of the body, nearly to the eyes, but not so 
as to be wigged like the poodle." 

" 2 — The face and eyes, (value 10,) are very peculiar ; Face very 
long and quite bare of curl, the hair being short and smooth, though 
not glossy ; nose broad and nostrils well developed ; teeth strong 
and level ; eyes small and set almost flush, without eyebrows." 

"3 — The topknot, (value 10,) is a characteristic of the true 
breed, and is estimated accordingly. It should fall between and over 
the eyes in a peaked form." 

"4 — The ears, (value 10,) are long, the leather extending when 
drawn forward, to a little beyond the nose, and the curls with which 
they are clothed two or three inches beyond. The whole of the ears 
is thickly covered with curls, which gradually lengthen towards the 
tips." 

"5 — Chest and shculders, (value 7^.) There is nothing re- 
markable about these points, wlich must nevertheless be of sufficient 
dimensions and muscularity. The chest is small compared with 



SELECTING A DOG. 



57 



most breeds of similar substance." 

"6 — The back and quarters, (value 7I,) also have no peculiarity, 
but the stifles are almost always straight, giving an appearance of 
legginess." 

"7 — Legs 2iw6.feet, (value 10.) The legs should be straight and 
the feet large, but strong ; the toes are somewhat open, and covered 
with short crisp curls. In all dogs of this breed the legs are thickly 
clothed with short curls, slightly pendent behind and at the sides, 
and some have them all round hanging in ringlets, for some time 
before the annual shedding. No feather like that of the setter 
should be shown. The front of the hind legs below the hocks is 
always bare." 

*'8 — The /a//, (values,) is very thick at the root, where it is 
clothed with very short hair. Beyond the root, however, the hair is 
perfectly short so as to look as if the tail had been clipped, which it 
sometimes fraudulently is, at our shows ; but the natural bareness of 
the tail is a true characteristic of the breed." 

"9 — The ^^d;/, (value 10,) is composed of short curls of hair, 
not tvoolly, which betrays the poodle cross. A soft flossy coat is ob- 
jected to as indicative of an admixture with some of the land 
Spaniels." 

" 10 — The color, (value 10,) must be a deep puce liver, without 
white ; but as in other breeds, a white toe will occasionally appear 
even on the best bred litter." 

*' II — The syt?imetrY, (value 5,) of this dog is not very great, and 
I have consequently only estimated it at 5." 

" POINTS OF THE FOX HOUND." 



V 


ALUE. VALUE 


Head, - 


15 Back and Loin, 10 


Neck, 


5 Hind-quarters, 10 


Shoulders, 


10 Elbows, - - 5 


Chest and - 


Legs and Feet, 20 


Back-ribs, 


10 




40 45 




Grand Total, 



VALUE. 

Color and Coat, 5 
Stern, - 5 

Symmetry, - 5 



15 



100. 



58 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



«i — The /lead, (value 15,) should be of full size, but by no 
means heavy. Brow pronounced, but not high or sharp. There 
must be good length and breadth, sufficient to give, in the dog-hound, 
a girth in front of the ears of fully 16 inches. The nose should be 
long (4^ in.) and wide with open nostrils. Ears set low and lying 
close to the cheeks." 

" 2 — The neck, (value 5,) must be long and clean without the 
slighest throatiness. It should taper nicely from the shoulders to 
the head, and the upper outline should be slightly convex." 

"3 — The shoulders, (value 10,) should be long and well clothed 
with muscle, without being heavy, especially at the points. They 
must be well sloped, and the true arm between the front and the 
elbow, must be long and muscular, but free from fat or lumber." 

"4 — Chest and back-ribs, (value 10.) The chest should girth over 
30 inches in a 24 inch hound, and the back-ribs must be very deep." 

"5 — The back and loin, (value 10,) must both be very muscular, 
running into each other without any contraction or nipping between 
them. The couples must be wide, even to raggedness, and there 
should be the very slightest arch in the loin, so as to be scarcely 
perceptible." 

''6 — The hind-quarters (value 10,) or propellers, are required to 
be very strong, and as endurance is of even more consequence than 
speed, straight stifles are preferred to those much bent as in the 
Greyhound." 

<' 7 — Elbows, (value 5,) set quite straight, and neither turned in 
nor out are a sine qua non. They must be well let down by means 
of the long true arm above mentioned." 

"8 — Legs -AXiA feet, (value 20.) Every master of Foxhounds in- 
sists on legs as straight as a post and as strong ; size of bone at the 
ankle being specially regarded as all important. The desire for 
straightness is, I think, carried to excess, as the very straight leg 
soon knuckles over, and this defect may almost always be seen more 
or less in old stallion hounds. The bone cannot, in my opinion, be too 
large, but I prefer a slight angle at the knee to a perfectly straight 
line. With the exception, however, of Mr. Austruther Thompson, I 
never met with a master of fox-hounds who would hear of such an her- 
etical opinion without scorn. The feet in all cases should be round 



SELECTING A DOG. 59 



and cat like, with well developed knuckles and strong horn, which 
last is of the utmost importance." 

"g — The aj/or and coaf, (value 5,) are not regarded as very im- 
portant, so long as the former is a ' hound color,' and the latter is 
short, dense, hard and glossy. Hound colors are black-tan and 
white, black and white, and the various ' pies ' compounded of white 
and the color of the hare and badger, or yellow or tan. In some 
old strains the blue mottle of the Southern hound is still preserved, 
but it is generally voted 'slow'." 

"10 — The ^/^;v/, (value 5,) is gently arched, carried gaily over 
the back, and slightly fringed with hair below. The end should 
taper to a point." 

" II — The symmetry, (value 5,) of the fox-hound is considerable, 
and what is called 'quality' is highly regarded by all good judges." 

Stonehenge does not give any scale of points for the 
Beagle, but says : " With the exception of the head and 
ears, the modern Beagle has all the points of the fox- 
hound. The former is much larger proportionally, both 
in width and height, while the latter are almost like those 
of the blood-hound, in size and hanging." He also says, 
in another place, that the points of the Beagle are numeri- 
cally the same as those of the fox-hound. 

" POINTS OF THE DACHSHUND." 



VALUE. 




VALUE. 


VALUE. 


Skull, - - 10 


Legs, 


- 


15 


Color, - - l\ 


Jaw, - - 10 


Feet, - 


- 


7i 


Size. Symmetry 


Ears, eyes, lips, 10 


Stern, 


- 


10 


and Quality, 10 


Lengthof body in- 


Coat, - 


- 


5 




cluding neck, 15 











45 ZVA i7>^ 

Grand Total, - - 100. 
'i— The skull (value 10,) is long and slightly arched, the occiput 



6o AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



being wide, and its protuberance well developed ; eyebrows raised, 
but without any marked 'stop'." 

"2 — The jaw, (value 10,) is long and tapering gradually from 
the eyes ; but nevertheless it should not be 'pig jawed'; the end 
though narrow, being cut off nearly square, with the teeth level and 
very strong." 

" 3 — The ears, eyes and /ij^s, (value 10.) The ears are long enough 
to reach nearly to the tip of the nose when brought over the jaw 
without force. They are broad, rounded at the ends and soft in 
'leather,' and coat hanging back in graceful folds ; but when excited 
brought forward so as to lie close to the cheeks. Eyes rather small, 
piercing and deeply set. In the black and tan variety they should 
be dark brown or almost black ; but in the red or chocolate deep hazel 
Dr. Fitzinger has often observed the two eyes vary in color, and even 
in size. The lips are short, but with some little flew towards the angles; 
not at all approaching, however, to that of the blood-hound. The 
skin is quite tight over the cheeks, and indeed over the whole head, 
showing no blood-hound wrinkle." 

" 4 — Length of body, (value 15,) In taking this into consideration 
the neck is included ; this part, however, is somewhat short, thick 
and rather throaty. The chest is long, round and roomy, but not so 
as to be unwieldy. It gradually narrows towards the back-ribs, 
which are rather short. The brisket should be only 2^ in. to 3 in, 
from the ground, and the breast-bone should project considerably. 
The loin is elegantly arched, and the flanks drawn up so as to make 
the waist look slim, the dog measuring higher behind than before. 
The quarters are strong in muscle as well as the shoulders, the latter 
being specially powerful." 

"5 — Legs, (value 15.) The forelegs should be very short, strong 
in bone and well clothed in muscle. The elbows should not turn out 
or in, the latter being a great defect. The knees should be close 
together, never more then 2\ in. apart, causing a considerable bend 
from the elbows mwards, so as to make the leg crooked, and then 
again turning out-wards to the foot, but this bend at the knee should 
not be carried to the extent of deformity. In order that the brisket 
should approach the ground, as above described, the forelegs must 
be very short. On the hind legs there is often a dew-claw, but this 



SELECTING A DOG. 6 1 



is not essential eitlier way.'' 

"6 — The/^^/, (value 7^,) should be of full size, but very strong 
and cat-like, with hard, horny soles to the pads. The fore-feet are 
generally turned out, thus increasing the appearance of crookedness 
in the legs. This formation gives assistance to the out-throw of the 
earth in digging." 

" 7 The stern, (value 10,) is somewhat short and thick at the 

root, tapering gradually to the point, with a slight curve upwards, and 
clothed with hair of moderate length, on its under surface. When 
excited, as in hunting, it is carried in a hound-like attitude over the 
back. Its shape and carriage indicates high breeding, and are 
valued accordingly." 

"8 The coat, (value 5,) is short and smooth but coarse in tex- 
ture, and by no means silky except on the ears, where it should be 
very soft and shiny." 

"g_The color (value 7^,) The best colors are red and black 
and tan, which last should be rich and deep, and this variety should 
always have a black nose. The red strain may have a flesh colored 
nose, and some good judges in England maintain that this is indis- 
pensable, but in Germany it is not considered of any importance. 
In the black and tans, the tan should extend to the lips, cheeks, a 
spot over each eye, the belly and flank, under side of tail, and a spot 
on each side of breast bone ; also to the lower part of both fore and 
hind legs and feet. Thumb marks and pencilling of the toes are not 
approved of in this country ; but they are often met with in Germany. 
Whole chocolate dogs are often well bred, but they are not liked in 
England, even with tan markings, which are however an improve- 
ment. Whole blacks and whites are unknown out of Germany, where 
they are rare. In England white on toes or breast is objected to 
but not in Germany." 

"lo-^&s^, symmet?y and quality (value 10,) In size the dachs- 
hund should be, in an average specimen, from 39 in. to 42 in. long, 
from tip to tip, and in height 10 in. to 11 in. at the shoulder; the 
weight should be from 11 lb. to 18 lb, the bitches being considerably 
smaller than the dogs. In symmetry the dachshund is above the 
average." 

The above descriptions given by the highest author- 



62 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

ity, furnish a reliable and sufficient guide in selecting 
from any of the different breeds of sporting dogs used 
in this country, with the exception of the Chesapeake 
duck dog. As I have already said these dogs are prac- 
tically extinct a few of them however remain in the 
hands of gentlemen located upon the Bay, and from 
one of these, Mr. O. D. Foulkes, an old time contributor 
to "The American Sportsman," I take the following, 
which appeared some years since in the colunms of that 
paper. 

" The only real ducking dog, bred and raised for the purpose, 
which can stand the cold and fatigue for any length of time, is the 
' Brown Winchester,' or ' Red Chester,' a cross between the English 
water poodle and the Newfoundland. They are a low, heavy set, 
densely coated dog, of a dark reddish brown color on the back, 
shading lighter on the sides, and running into a very light yellow or 
white on the belly and inside of the legs ; the throat and breast are 
are also frequently marked with white. They are of other colors, 
but any change from the brown shows a want of careful breeding. 
This breed, I am sorry to say, is fast going out of existence. At 
one time they were very common here, almost every person living on 
a ducking shore owning one or two, but the war coming on scattered 
the old families, and the new comers, either not knowing the value 
of the breed, or else not taking any interest in anything outside of 
the farm, have allowed it to run almost entirely out. The last of 
the breed (to my knowledge) was a spayed bitch, owned by myself ; 
she died three years ago, and from that time up to last fall I had 
been anxiously searching for a pup. I have a pair of good staunch 
ones now, in front of which a wounded duck stands no chance. This 
breed of dogs are very swift and powerful swimmers, they will chase 
a crippled duck one and two miles, and unless the bird be very 
slightly hit, will catch him in the end. The dog sits on the shore 
behind the blind, his color matching so well with the sand and clay 
that were he even continually moving the ducks would never notice 
him (this is the reason the brown color is so carefully bred for). 



SELECTING A DOG. 63 



He seldom moves any part of his body except the head, which he 
continually turns up and down the river, often sighting the approach- 
ing duck before the gunners. When the gun is fired and a duck 
falls, he bounds to the edge of the water, plunges in and brings it 
ashore, and then without having received a word of command from 
his master, carries it up to the place where he sits and drops it. 
After giving himself two or three shakes and a roll, he resumes his 
old station and watch. He does not shiver like a setter, or raise and 
drop his fore-feet like a wet spaniel ; the shaking he has given his 
coarse, oily coat, has freed it entirely from ice and water ; he cannot 
be enticed into a kennel, but must sit out on the frozen shore, rain 
or shine, and watch as well as the gunner. If one of the fallen birds 
chance to be only crippled, he swims past the dead ones, keeping the 
wounded duck in sight ; when it dives he swims to the spot and there 
continues turning round and round, now and then throwing himself 
high in the water, especially if the waves are heavy. As soon as the 
duck reappears, he strikes out immediately for it, and as it dives 
again he swims to the spot where he last saw it, and continues to turn 
until the duck comes up, then another swim, and so on until the duck 
is tired out or escapes him. If the duck falls too far out for the dog 
to see, he takes his direction from the motion of the hand. 

"The spaniel and setter are often used when the 'Winchester' 
cannot be had. They make a good substitute while they last, which 
is not very long. They cannot stand the ice-cold water and frozen 
shores, day in and day out the season through ; spaniels are too 
small to stand the heavy waves, and setters are not heavy enough 
coated, rheumatism attacks them in a year or two, followed by a 
gathering in the head which destroys their hearing and finally ends 
their lives. Other water dogs may be used, but the difficulty is 
in breaking them to understand the difference between a duck and a 
block of wood. I have seen many dogs called ducking dogs which 
at the report of a gun would bound into the water and bring out a 
decoy, if a duck had not fallen, or they could not find it immediately." 

When buying a broken dog he should always be 
tested in the field and under the gun, unless he comes 
from a breaker of established reputation, which may be 



64 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 



taken as a guaranty of the quality of his pupil's educa- 
tion ; even then it is better for a buyer to see the dog in 
the field, as most sportsmen have fancies of their own, 
and what suits one will not suit another. 

When the dog has not been handled by a breaker 
of repute he should invariably be tried before purchase, 
as there are large numbers of dogs which are well yard 
broken, and under control when free from the excitement 
of hunting, but in the field are valueless for want of 
proper handling. A well broken and thorough field dog 
should range well in the open, and close in cover, when 
ordered ; should carry his head high ; show good nose ; 
be under good control, obeying the whistle and hand as 
promptly as verbal commands ; be staunch to point, back 
and charge, and a tender-mouthed retriever from land and 
water. He should also not be afraid of briars, and go 
readily wherever sent. All except nose, pointing and 
retrieving can be determined at any season of the year, 
and in any field, and where these cannot be tested, they 
must be made the subject of a warranty. I have said 
the dog must be tried under the gun, because in the 
course of my experience I have seen gun-shy dogs that 
taken into a field or cover without a o-un would work 
splendidly and deceive the purchaser into the idea that 
he was getting a very superior animal, but the moment 
the gun was taken out they would either refuse to stir 
from heel, or run away altogether. I have known of 
such dogs sold after being exhibited, with warranties 
for nose, staunchness, field control, and retrieving, and 
the purchaser be unable to recover, because the dog ful- 
filled all these pledges, though, from shyness, not worth 






CO 

w 

H 

W 

> 

S 

O 
<^ 

l-H 

o 




SELECTING A DOG. 65 



a dollar. To test this all that is necessary is to fire a 
gun over him, this will also show whether he is a steady 
charger or a shot breaker, the latter not conclusively 
but presumptively, as some dogs will break shot when 
they see the game fall, but charge steadily at all other 
times. Of course the only absolute and positive test is 
actual work upon game during the season, but as it is 
often desirable to purchase a dog before the season 
opens, a man of experience can generally determine the 
style of the dog by such a trial as I have mentioned. 
In the case of a tyro he had better by all means get a 
competent friend to examine and try the dog for him. 

In regard to price, it may^be said, that as a rule a 
man must not expect to buy a well-broken experienced 
dog for a small sum. When we consider that with the 
most intelligent dogs it takes at least a year to bring 
them under perfect control, and give them the experience 
necessary to make them practical workers, it is easy 
to see that from fifty to one hundred dollars, for 
breaking is only a fair figure, and the breaker will never 
grow rich at that. If it is said that by taking a number 
of dogs he can afford to break them for less, it may be 
said on the other hand that every additional dog is a 
disadvantage, because with his time divided between 
many he cannot devote to each the attention it needs. 
I know there are breakers that advertise to break for 
twenty-five dollars, and it is not saying too much to state 
that these men never turn out a broken doe. Their 
manner of proceeding is to take a dog in the yard and 
teach him to stop and advance at the word, retrieve, 
drop to shot, and possibly the rudiments of quartering. 



66 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



all of which in ordinary cases can be taught in four weeks, 
though from having a large number of dogs on hand, 
and dividing his time between them, the breaker gener- 
ally keeps each from two to three months, and then turns 
him over to his owner as broken. The result of such 
breaking is evident as soon as the dog is taken into the 
field, for no sooner does he get the scent of game than 
the new idea banishes his faint conceptions of duty, and 
in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the twenty-five 
dollar broken dog in one month's time is not worth twenty- 
five cents, and is either condemned as good for nothing or 
sent to some good breaker, and thus costs his owner the 
first price over and above what he would have had to 
pay if he had sent him to a thorough, reliable breaker 
at first. 

Over and above the cost of breaking is the value of 
the dog himself, which varies according to quality, so that 
all considered, broken dogs cost all the way from one 
hundred and fifty to five hundred dollars. Occasionally 
well bred and well broken ones can be bought for less, 
when some sportsman is selling drafts from his kennel 
or giving up shooting, but as a general thing the prices 
I have quoted may be considered as warranted by actual 
sales, and many dogs would readily command more than 
the highest figure named. 

If a man does nor wish to pay such prices let him 
take a young pup and break him for himself. I shall 
show in another chapter that this is not such a difificult 
task as is supposed. If neither of these courses will suit 
him he must either content himself with an Inferior 
animal or watch for one of those chances which some- 



SELECTING A DOG. 67 



times present themselves when an owner is obHged to 
dispose of a really good dog at a sacrifice. 



68 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



I 



CHAPTER IV. 
SETTERS, 

THEIR BREEDING AND COMPARATIVE VALUE. 

N view of the magnitude of the Interests Involved, I 
should not feel justified In passing over the question 
of the comparative values of the different breeds of set- 
ters, and specially of the Llewelllns and Laveracks, upon 
which there is now so warm a controversy. I confess 
to a strong opinion upon this issue, yet I do not think 
it a prejudicial one, because I have formed It after care- 
ful examination of the facts and evidence bearing upon 
the case, and which I think justify my conclusions. In 
presenting my views I have no wish to unwarrantably 
attack any man, but believing, as I do, a great error has 
existed in certain theories of breeding which have been 
advanced, I consider myself, in duty to my brother 
sportsmen, bound to expose this as fully as possible, and 
if In so doing, I denounce the action of any parties to 
this controversy, it will only be because they have at- 
tempted to draw public attention from the true issue by 
personal attacks upon those who have ventured to raise 
this question. I shall confine myself as closely as possi- 
ble to the evidence, yet I cannot entirely Ignore the 
personalities I have referred to, because they contain 
statements which If unrefuted, place those against whom 
they are directed, in an unfavorable and unjust light be- 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 69 

fore the public, as acting through prejudice and the 
furtherance of personal ends, while in truth this charge 
can with equal propriety be brought against its authors. 

The question between the Llewellin and Laverack 
men briefly summed up is, were the latter dogs actually 
bred as their pedigree shows, and have they as much 
practical value as the former? 

The reliability of the pedigrees has long been a mat- 
ter of doubt in England, both from their extraordinary 
character and what is known of the acts and words of 
Mr. Laverack. Mr. John R. Robinson, who claims to be 
the special friend and successor of Mr. Laverack, and to 
know more of his manner of breeding than any one else, 
really started the present discussion by remarks he made 
about certain dogs which had previously been known as 
pure Laveracks, and the matter was brought to a head 
by Mr. Llewellin's protest of the entry of Mr. Bowers* 
" Comet " in the " Pure Laverack " class at the Alexandra 
Palace show. This protest with the necessary forfeit 
was lodged with "The Kennel Club," and was taken 
under consideration by the Committee of that body, but 
before any decision could be rendered, the Laverack men 
rushed into print with attacks upon Mr. Llewellin, and 
the sensational plea that the truth of the pedigrees should 
not be impugned because Mr. Laverack is dead and 
cannot defend himself. If there was no precedent for 
criticism of the acts and productions of men who have 
passed away, this plea would have weight it does not 
possess now, but on the contrary, such criticism is habit- 
ual, proper and necessary, and in no way inconsistent 
with the reverence which every true man feels for those 



70 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



who have crossed the dark river which no mortal can 
ever recross. Bygone ages have been marked by theor- 
ies and superstitions, which have been exploded by the 
wisdom of later days, and common sense teaches us that 
only those principles are worthy of credence, which are 
proved true when submitted to the most rigid scrutiny. 
If a theory or a production gained sanctity by the death 
of its author, the investigations of science would be ham- 
pered and the wheels of progress blocked by the heaped 
up rubbish of the past ; but fortunately the world does 
not recognize such investure, and all things are open 
for examination. Whatever is proved genuine Is so rec- 
ognized and accredited at its full value. Prejudice or 
deliberate misconstruction may for a time cast a shadow 
upon it, but all men are not prejudiced or liars, and 
the more frequent and close the examination, the 
more sure and speedy is the vindication of the truth. 
If the Laverack pedigrees are truthful they will stand 
investigation and gain in character as reliable guides In 
breeding. They are so at variance with all generally 
accepted theories, that if substantiated, they will destroy 
those theories forever and revolutionize all recoo^nlzed 
systems, but this fact alone should not discredit them, 
though it should make the examination more close and 
searching than if such opposition did not exist. If the 
pedigrees are truthful, their supporters should welcome 
investigation, because Its result will place the pedigrees 
in a better position than they can gain In any other way ; 
but If on the other hand they are false, the world should 
know It, and neither the chivalry of respect for the dead, 
nor the specious pleading of Interested advocates be al- 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. Jl 

lowed to hide the fraud or continue it to the injury of 
present and future generations of sportsmen. It is for 
the interests of all breeders that they arrive at correct 
conclusions upon these pedigrees, as they cannot be ig- 
nored or over-valued without entailing serious loss. 
The question is one of evidence only, and possesses 
nothing of the sensational character with which special 
pleaders have sought to clothe it. It is one of hard 
facts, and can only be sensibly decided according as 
those facts warrant one or another conclusion. 

In " The Setter," Mr. Laverack gave upon page 21, 
a pedigree of his dogs showing that all down to and in- 
cludino- Dash II and Moll III, were descended in an 
unbroken line and without the admission of any crosses, 
from Ponto and Old Moll, which in a foot note to the 
page, he says he procured in 1825 for the Rev. A. Har- 
rison, near Carlisle, who had kept the blood pure for 
thirty-five years. He also gave in this pedigree the 
colors of the different dogs which were blue mottled 
black and white ; black, white and tan ; orange and white 
and lemon and white. Upon the opposite page he gave 
the colors of Ponto and Old Moll as black grey and 
silver grey, respectively. These colors he further empha- 
sized upon page 22, where he says: '' Color black or 
blue and white ticked"—"'^"'-"" "There is another 
variety of the same strain, called the lemon and 
white Beltons, exactly the same breed and blood. 
These are marked similar to the blues, except being 
spotted all through with lemon color instead of blue." 
We have therefore not only the tables of descent, but 
also the only colors recognized by Mr. Laverack as 



72 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

belonging to his pure breed. 

If this pedigree is correctly given, it presents two 
conspicuously salient points. First, the extreme degree 
of inbreeding, a degree it is. safe to say, never equaled 
in any other instance known ; and second, the very small 
number of generations between Dash II and Ponto, and 
Old Moll, with the consequent longevity of each gener- 
ation. Dash II was whelped in 1862, thirty-seven years 
after Mr. Laverack procured his original breed for the 
Rev. Mr. Harrison. The clam of Dash II was Cora II, 
who was out of Cora I. She by Dash I out of Belle I, 
both by Ponto, out of Old Moll. Dash II was therefore 
the fourth generation from the original brace, giving 
nine years and three months as the average age at which 
each generation produced its successor. On his sire's 
side. Dash II was the sixth generation, giving an aver- 
age of six years and two months. As the Laveracks in 
other men's hands have never displayed any unusual 
longevity, the extreme improbability of the above show- 
ing is glaringly apparent. 

Mr. Llewellin protested Count on the ground that 
he was not a pure Laverack. Count was by Bandit, and 
he by Pride of the Border, which clog Mr. Llewellin 
claimed was descended from a cross to the Edmond 
Castle strain. In support of this protest he produced 
before the Committee of the Kennel Club, letters of 
Mr. Laverack's and other evidence, showing that he 
crossed his dogs repeatedly ; that Pride of the Border 
was the produce of a direct cross and was so recognized 
by Mr. Laverack, and that the pedigrees generally are 
wholly unreliable. I have in my possession copies of 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 7- 



this evidence and know that it fully sustains these points, 
but I do not feel at liberty to give it In d.etail further 
than it has already appeared in the papers, because Mr. 
Llewellin for good reasons which he has explained to me, 
has not given it to the public. Enough outside evidence 
however remains to prove that Pride of the Border was 
cross bred, and to show the unreliability of the pedigrees, 
and this I will now call attention to. 

First, as to Mr. Laverack's repeated crosses, I quote 
from page 30, of " The Setter." '^' I have /'rzV^ crossing, 
or letting my blood loose, ten or a dozen times, but the re- 
sult has always been unsatisfactory : therefore I stick to 
intercrossing with my own strain, as I have ever found 
it to answer best." Here then, we have an admission of 
crosses, but a denial that any of the produce was retain- 
ed. To offset this denial, we have the well known fact 
that Mr Laverack was a very crafty man who carefully 
concealed his manner of breeding from the public : this 
is shown by what he says in the paragraph preceding 
that I have already quoted, viz: "There are several 
secrets connected with my system of intercrossing that 
I do not think advisable to give to the public at present." 
The nature of these secrets and proof that he did retain 
the produce of at least 07ie cross, is shown by the follow- 
ing letter of his most intimate friend, Mr. John R. 
Robinson, which appeared in the English ''Live Stock 
Journar'' issue of December, 1880. 

" ' I am afraid that your (Mr. Vero Shaw's) remarks on the Lav- 
erack, as to their supposed delicacy, etc., etc. : crossing is calculated 
to create an unfavorable impression of the breed. First, I may 
tell you there is no Nauworth Castle blood in them, although Mr. 



Laverack did cross with that blood as an experiment, as he did also 
with several other strains ; but none were satisfactory (with one ex- 
ception,) so that he did not perpetuate the crosses. I may add that 
about 187 1-2, he tried a cross with one of his best bitches. One of 
the litter was a very handsome black dog, which he offered to me, 
but, like himself, I abominate a cross-bred animal, no matter how 
handsome. The black was sold or given to a brother of Edward 
Armstrong. The Armstrongs believe that a dash of the Nauworth 
Castle is in the Laverack. Quite a mistake. The only cross Mr. L. 
retained in his breed was the Edmond Castle. It is now nearly 
forty years ago, and at that time this strain was as pure and as good 
as his own, and the dog he crossed with was a wonderful performer, 
medium sized and splendidly formed ; colour, liver-and-white, and 
this is where the latter colour comes from. Both the dam and the 
sire are mentioned in his book ("The Setter"), but not as being a 
cross. It was one of poor Laverack's secrets. Rothwell was an old 
and esteemed friend of Mr. L.'s, and the puppies he bred were out 
of a pure bitch by Blue Prince, so that they were Laverack's own 
blood. Two of the nine that died, died here in my possession — 
Eclipse and Dash (the former a present to me for a show dog). They 
unfortunately had distemper before sent to me, and all I could do 
I could not save them, although I kept them alive much longer 
than those at Whitechurch. His dogs got the infection in transit 
from his shooting in Scotland, being shut up in one of those abomi- 
nable dens called dog-boxes. Prince and Cora were so bad with 
mange that he had to send them to White, the vet., to have them 
cured. As to there being a "fatality" about the place, well, in my 
opinion he was right ; and the cause was two large stagnant ponds, 
one adjoining the kennel on the north, and the other south of the 
house, into which the drainage flowed ; and the dogs made use of the 
pond. Besides, the sleeping berths were paved, which caused them 
to be very offensive. The yard was laid with a sort of earthenware 
flag, and properly drained, right enough. The situation is a beauti- 
ful one, but the sanitary arrangements were bad for the dogs.' " 

" ' I reared five here in the midst of a large town— three my own. 
Daisy is one, dam of Emperor Fred ; La Reine is another, and her 
brother Rock ; also Victor now in London, and Ruby, which I sold 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 75 

to L. R. Price. She was resold to Hemming, and she was sold at 
his sale.' " 

"'Just a word about Blue Prince II. I have Mr. Laverack's 
authority for declaring that he was not by his Blue Prince, nor out 
of his Cora. This affair, I can assure you, embittered my old friend's 
last moments in a way that shocked me, but he felt the matter very 
strongly. Rail, too, I have the authority of Messrs. Lort and Walker 
for stating that he was got by a dog (not a Laverack) that Mr. Lort 
sent to New Zealand ; and Fiance, the dam of Novel, is not a pure 
Laverack. Novel shows her cross-breeding in her bad head and 
nasty light eyes. As to big leggy animals, Mr. Laverack detested 
them.' " 

" ' My object is not to detract the dogs I have named, but simply, 
as the late Edward Laverack's representative, to protest against them 
being called Laveracks ; for no dog is entitled to be so unless de- 
scended from the pure strain on both sides.' " 

Mr. Robinson here states that none of the crosses 
were satisfactory "■with one exception,'' and ahttle further 
on that " the only cross Mr. L. retained in his breed was 
the Edmond Castle." I will cite evidence presently to 
show that he did retain other crosses, but this is enough 
for the present. Mr. Robinson also states that both the 
sire and dam in this Edmond Castle cross "are mention- 
ed in his book ("The Setter") but not as being across. 
// was one of poor Laverack's secrets,'" (the italics in both 
these quotations are my own,) and still further says, he 
has " Mr. Laverack's authority" for declaring that Blue 
Prince II "was not by his Blue Prince nor out of his 
Cora." This dog had always been publicly known as of 
this breeding, and Mr. Laverack endorsed this pedigree 
by allowing it to go unchallenged. Upon the evidence 
then of his most intimate friend, Mr. Laverack stands 
committed of deceiving the public in his book, and again 



76 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

by allowing a dog to be known as of his breed that did 
not belong to it. 

With the fact of this Edmond Castle cross, and the 
retention of its produce thus established, let us see what 
evidence of other crosses and similar retention exists. 

In the first place, it can be fully proved that Mr. 
Laverack bred repeatedly to a dog owned by Lord Lovat 
of Beaufort Castle, Invernesshire. The dog he bred to 
is mentioned in "The Setter" in the hig-hest terms ; the 
fact of the breeding can be proved by the evidence of 
Lord Lovat's keeper, and the probability that the pro- 
duce was retained is made emphatic by Laverack's 
repeated use of the dog, it not being supposable he 
would have returned to him if the result of the cross 
was unsatisfactory. Next, Mr. Walker's Duchess, a sis- 
ter to Laverack's Dash II was sent to the latter's Jet, an 
own brother to his Fred II. Fred II is stated on page 
20, of "The Setter" to be by Dash out of Moll, so that 
the produce of Duchess by Jet, would naturally be ex- 
pected to be typical Laveracks in form and color, but on 
the contrary the litter contained four red pups, a color 
never before shown by dogs of this breed. Mr. Laverack 
accounted for this color as a throw back to one of the 
dogs the Rev. Mr. Harrison bega7i breeding from, seveiity- 
five years before, an assumption more creditable to Mr. 
Laverack's powers of accounting for things he considered 
his secrets, than to the sense of the public which was 
asked to accept this explanation. Upon page 24, of 
"The Setter," I find the following: "So highly do I 
value the true blood belonging to the Irish, that I have 
visited Ireland four times for the express purpose of 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 77 



ascertaining where the pure blood was to be found with 
a view to crossing them with my Beltons." In view of 
the fact of Irish color exhibited for the first time in the 
Duchess litter, is it not more reasonable that Mr. Lav- 
erack tried an Irish cross, concealing it, as he concealed 
the Edmond Castle cross, than that there should be a 
throw back over seventy-Jive years ? 

From this Duchess litter, Mr. Laverack retained 
Mystery, a red dog, and used hirn in the stud, getting 
both red and black pups as well as others of the Laverack 
colors. A red bitch by Mystery out of Cora named 
Ruby, was bought by Dr. Gautier, of New York, from 
Mr. Laverack, himself, and such doubt of her purity exist- 
ed owing to her color, that Mr. Laverack acknowledged 
the sale in ih.Q American Sportsman, while that paper was 
under my charge. The same doubt was entertained of 
others of the color, disposed of in England, and in fact 
was never overcome by all the assertions of purity put 
forth in their defense. " W. F. S." writing to the Amer- 
icariSportsptan, March 14th, 1874, quotes from a letter 
of Mr. Laverack to Dr. Gautier as follows : '' Ruby will 
most likely breed some livers and white, some blacks, 
some blue or black and white, and some strain to Cora, 
dam of Ruby, lemon and white." The black, which I 
have italicised, does not appear in the list of colors named 
by Mr. Laverack in " The Setter," or in the pedigree 
given therein, so that the expectation of its appearance 
thus expressed, is strong presumptive evidence that Mr. 
Laverack knew of a cross which would produce this color, 
as the experience of those who have tried crossing the 
Laveracks to the Irish shows it will. 



The unreliable character of Mr. Laverack's state- 
ments, and the fact of his crosses are further shown by 
the following extracts from an editorial note by Mr. 
Walsh (Stonehenge,) the Editor of The Field, in the 
issue of May 20th, 1882, and from a letter of Edward 
Armstrong, in The Field, of May 27th. This extract 
from the note, and the first part of the letter, refer to Old 
Moll, the bitch Mr. Laverack always declared he pur- 
chased from the Rev. A. Harrison. Of this, Mr. Walsh 
says : " Moreover as to this statement it is doubtful 
whether Mr. Laverack's memory served him correctly, 
for we have recently heard from Sir Frederick Graham 
that Mr. Laverack bought his original Setter bitch from 
Mr. Connel, banker of Carlisle, for £% 8s., and crossing 
her with his (Sir F. Graham's) strain, formed his breed." 
The Armstrong extract is as follows : 

u gjj^ . — jn the controversy that is going on in your journal on 
the above subject a morsel of truth has leaked out at last, and that 
is your footnote to the letter signed " E. West." Sir Frederick 
Graham is perfectly right when he says that Mr. Connel's Moll was 
bought by Mr. Laverack for ^8 8s., and he might have added, too, 
that she was bought through my poor old father's recommendations. 
I know the crosses to a nicety — every one of them — that Mr. Laver- 
ack made from the late Sir James Graham's and the present baronet's 
kennel at The Flat. I also know the whole secret of Mr. Laverack's 
system of crossing, and some day I hope to give a plain, unvarnished 
account of every cross he thought fit to make. 

One word to the Laverack advocates. When the poor old man 
died he did not leave his brains behind him ; in other words, he did 
not leave these advocates his great knowledge of mating setters with 
setters so as to produce perfect animals. Rest assured, every cross 
he made was for the best. None of the upstarts now can cross as he 
did." 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 79 

Turning now to Pride of the Border, let us see what 
evidence exists that he was cross bred. First of all, I will 
quote from page 31, of " The Setter," a paragraph which 
applies with equal force to Pride and the Duchess litter. 
'' There is no better test of a pure breed of Setters than a 
perfect uniformity of race, that is in color, form and coat, 
and never throwingf back to some other color and form 
unknown to the breeder." The appearance of a color 
foreign to the breed is thus shown to-be positive evidence 
of impurity or cross breeding. The first thing which 
roused suspicion of Pride's purity was his color, liver and 
white, which had never been previously shown by any 
Laverack. This color, Mr. Laverack accounted for by 
saying, Pride strained back thirty-five or forty years to 
the Edmond Castle strain. Many supporters of the 
Laveracks have lately tried to account for this liver and 
white as naturally produced by the mixture of the blue 
and lemon Beltons, but apart from the fact that in all the 
years these dogs had been bred together, this result had 
never been obtained, it is evident Mr. Laverack did not 
consider this possible, or he would have availed himself of 
this excuse rather than be forced to the very improbable 
one of such reversion. . A man of Mr. Laverack's unques- 
tionable experience would certainly know as much of the 
production of colors as any of these theorists who are 
children in comparison with him, and if he did not reach 
their conclusion, it is good evidence that such conclusion 
is not well founded. Other parties have attempted to 
prove that the liver and white is not a proof of out-cross, 
because Countess when bred to Pilkington's Dash pro- 
duced the liver and white Carlowitz. Countess was, until 



8o AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

lately, supposed to be by Dash II out of Moll III, and a 
sister to Nellie and Daisy. Pilkington's Dash was by 
Laverack's Dash II out of Pilkington's Lill. If these 
pedigrees were correct, Dash and Countess should not 
have produced out-colored progeny, but investigation 
has disclosed the fact that whatever she may have been 
she was not a Dash-Moll, and as one of the pedigrees giv- 
en of her by Mr. Laverack is identical with one of those 
he gave of Pride of the Border, it is probable she had 
the same predisposition as himself to produce the liver 
and white though not herself so marked. 

That Mr. Laverack made different statements as to 
the leno-th of time over which Pride strained for his 
color is amply proved by reference to a letter of Mr. 
Robinson's, which appeared in the American Field, issue 
of February nth, 1882, being reproduced from TheField. 
In that letter Mr. Robinson wrote of Mr. Laverack as 
follows : "What he did say of Pride of the Border was 
this : ' He has thrown back in color to the Edmond Cas- 
tle breed,' which has lain dormant in his sort for thirty 
years (I will swear, or take any affidavit the committee 
of the Kennel Club may require, that Mr. Laverack said 
thirty years,) which letters in my possession will prove." 
As it happens, I also have letters from Mr. Laverack, 
written to me while I was editing the American Sports- 
man, and in one of these, which was in reply to one of 
mine, calling attention to an error in Pride's pedigree, 
the dog then being the property of Mr. Raymond, Mr. 
Laverack wrote as follows : " Pride strains thirty-five or 
forty years back to the celebrated Edmond Castle, Co. 
Cumberland, a breed I consider equal to my own." In 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 



another part of the same letter, he says "he must have 
strained back for half a century or more to the old Ed- 
mond Castle breed." Here then we have a discrepancy 
of from five to twenty years between the statements 
made to me, and those which Mr. Robinson says he will 
swear to. Mr. Robinson says in the same letter I have 
already referred to, " Mrv Laverack did not cross his 
breed in the way suggested by Mr. Llewellin, in fact he 
could not, for at the time there had noj been a specimen 
of the Edmond Castle blood for many years, it having 
been merged in other families." It would seem Mr. 
Laverack did not agree in this, for by reference to the 
first quotation from his letter to me, it will be seen he 
spoke of this breed as "a breed I consider equal to my 
own," and it is hardly probable he would use the present 
tense in speaking of an extinct breed. His letter was 
written April ist, 1875, and would indicate that, at that 
time, he knew of pure specimens of the Edmond Castle 
blood and valued them highly. Mr. Robinson goes on 
from the above quotation to add, " It is now forty-three 
years since the blood was infused into Old Moll, and that 
only once ; and she was always afterward bred to the 
dogs as described in the pedigree tables." Forty- 
three years back from the date of this letter takes us to 
1839, 3-nd as Mr. Laverack claims to have procured Old 
Moll in 1825, she must have been at the time of this 
infusion, at least fotirteeii years old, so that the improb- 
ability of her breeding at all at that age, and much more 
of her being bred later, as the tables show, is too appar- 
ent for comment. That Mr. Laverack owned many dogs 
and bitches of the same names is well known, and the 



82 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



deduction from the inconsistencies in time stated for 
Pride's straining back, from Mr. Laverack's recognition 
of the Edmond Castle blood as late as 1875, i^'^^ years 
after Pride of the Border's birth), and for the impossi- 
bility that Old Moll was bred to dogs as claimed by Mr. 
Robinson, supplemented by the repetition of names is, 
that Mr. Laverack did not tell Mr. Robinson any more 
than any one else when or Jiow many times he crossed 
his dogs. 

That Pride of the Border was the result of a direct 
or very recent cross, would seem to be proved by the 
change from the Laverack characteristics which many 
of his progeny display. For in addition to perpetuating 
his color, he gave to many of his offspring a coarser form 
and different coat from the other so called Laveracks, 
some of them (as for instance Mr. Llewellin's White- 
church Bess) even showing a top-knot. Such change is 
by inverse reasoning, proof of cross breeding, since as I 
have already shown, Mr. Laverack, himself, stated, uni- 
formity in color, form and coat constitutes the test of 
purity. 

Apart from all these proofs of crosses, which of 
themselves invalidate pedigrees that do not show cross 
breeding, those pedigrees are still further proved unre- 
liable by their inconsistencies and errors. Pride of the 
Border, for example, appears in Vols, i and 2 of the 
"Kennel Club Stud Book," under three different pedi- 
grees, viz. : Vol.1 in pedigree of Dash — 1338 — as by 
Fred II out of Belle. Vol. 2, No. 4275, by Dash II out of 
Belle II, and in No. 4300 of same Vol., he appears as 
by Dash II out of Moll III. If it is said that these are 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 83 

mere compiler's blunders, the same excuse cannot be urged 
in cases where pedigrees were given by Mr. Laverack 
himself. When Pride of the Border first came to this 
country, Mr. Laverack gave him as by Fred II, out of 
Belle II. Upon this point I turn again to Mr. Robin- 
son's letter, which I have already quoted from, and find: 
"As to Pride's pedigree, Mr. Laverack declares that he 
was out of his 'Old Belle' (handsomer than any) by 
'Fred II,' and as to his stating that Dash was the sire, 
it was undoubtedly a slip of memory ; and I am certain 
that if he had been reminded of it he would at once 
have stated so, and declared Fred II the sire, which he 
always did to me, both verbally and in writing. Mr. 
Laverack's letter to me, from which I quoted above, was 
in reply to one, asking for Pride's true pedigree, and 
calling attention to its being given as by Fred II. In 
reply he wrote: "I have, owing to defective memory, 
made a great error in stating Fred 1 1 sire of Pride. I 
had prior to selling Pride, given Old Dash as the sire 
to many parties in England. I have written to Mr. Ray- 
mond, acknowledging my error or mistake, and stating 
positively Old Dash is the true sire of Pride." Countess 
was repeatedly spoken of and written of by Mr. Laverack, 
as by Dash II out of Moll III, but he gave a different 
pedigree to the gentleman who bought her from him 
and who sold her to Mr. Llewellin. One pedigree giv- 
en by Mr. Laverack was the same as one of Pride of the 
Border, and as both were born in the same year it is 
possible they were brother and sister, which would ac- 
count for the liver and white in their progeny. At the 
Birmingham show, 1869 and 1870, Mr. Laverack entered 



84 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

Dash as by " Sting — Cora," the same pedigree which he 
gives in his book, but in the DubHn Catalogue, 1872, he 
was entered as *'sire — Matt" — the latter being changed 
by Mr. Laverack to Moll, which was equally incorrect if 
Cora II was his dam. At Crystal Palace 1870, he was 
entered as by Dash II (Je. himself) — Moll III — and at 
Crystal Palace 1873116 was entered, as by " Blue-Cora II." 
At Birmingham shows for 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1869, 
Fred II was entered as by " Fred I — Belle "while on 
page 20, of "The Setter ^^ he appears as by Dash out of 
Moll. At Crystal Palace in 1871, Pride of the Border 
was entered as by " Dash — Moll," but at the same show in 
1872, he was entered as by "Fred II — Belle." 

Other inconsistencies could be culled from the show 
catalogues and the stud book, but they are not needed. 
It matters not whether such blunders were the result of 
defective memory or otherwise, they are equally fatal to 
the reliability of the pedigrees ; but when to such blunders 
is joined suppression of the crosses, of which no doubt 
can remain in the minds of reasonable men, the character 
of the pedigrees for accuracy or value is wholly destroy- 
ed, and with them must fall the theories of breeding 
which their advocates have built upon them. 

Let us see, now, how the committee of the Kennel 
Club regarded the issue raised by Mr. Llewellin's protest 
of Comet. 

At its third meeting the committee agreed upon the 
following report : 

Copy of Letter from Kennel Club. 

Kennel Club, 29A, Pall Mall, S. W., March 9. 
Sir : — I beg to enclose ^i, the amount of your deposit money, 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 85 

re Comet. I also forward you a copy of the Kennel Club Committee's 
resolution on the subject. 

''The committee of the Kennel Club, having very carefully con- 
sidered the subject, and after a thorough perusal of Mr, Laverack's 
own letters on the matter, and corroborative evidence produced by 
Mr. Llewellin, decline to affirm the correctness of Mr, Laverack's 
pedigrees or his pedigree tables. Nevertheless, whereas certain dogs 
have been generally known, both in Great Britain and America as 
pure Laveracks, whereby the term has acquired a certain recognized 
and conventional meaning, and whereas Pride of) the Border, and all 
the other ancestors of Comet have been habitually so described, 
therefore the committee is of opinion that Comet was entitled to 
compete in a class limited to pure Laveracks, and that Mr. Bowers 
was acting within his strict rights in showing the dog in such a 
class." — Yours faithfully, Hy. James Stephen. 

R, LI. Purcell Llewellin, Esq, 

The committee thus declared the pedigrees unreliable, 
and the term "pure Laverack" only a conventionalism. 
It did not, it is true, disqualify Comet's entry, but it 
admitted that Mr. Llewellin had sustained his protest by 
returning the £\ deposit, which by the Club rule would 
have been forfeited, if the protest had been unsustained. 
At first sight, this report appears to have but little force, 
but when viewed with due consideration for circum- 
stances, it stands out in far different light. In the 
first place, Mr. Llewellin is not a member of the club, 
but on the contrary it has been his bitter enemy. Again, 
many of its most influential members are breeders, and 
advocates of the Laveracks, so that this report, declaring 
the Committee could not "affirm the correctness of 
Mr. Laverack's pedigrees and his pedigree tables," was 
a decision against the interests of its members, and in 
favor of an opponent that could only have been wrung 



from the committee by evidence of overwhelming force. 
To this report Mr. LlewelHn made the following re- 
ply, In The Field, of March i8 : 

To THE Committee of the Kennel Club. 

Gentlemen, — I am in receipt of your letter containing the state- 
ment of your decision re my protest. 

I also beg to acknowledge your cheque for ^i, in repayment of 
my deposit, which I paid in on first entering my protest, in accordance 
with your rule, and which deposit, owing to the character of your 
decision, you have returned to me. 

The definition of " pure Laverack," now made by the committee, 
has been made since I lodged my protest, and was made on March 7, 
i.e.^ three months after the date of the Alexandra Palace Show, at 
which show they instituted a class for ''pure Laveracks," without at 
that date in any way defining the term. 

The fact that they then gave no definition of "pure Laveracks," 
proves that at that date they accepted the commonly understood 
definition as universally recognized by setter breeders, and were 
therefore bound to hear the case under it, and no other. It is plain 
that if a new definition had not been made subsequent to the date 
of my protest, and during the progress of the inquiry, it would have 
been impossible to retain Pride of the Border as a "pure Laverack." 
What was commonly understood by the term '' pure Laverack " is 
well known, and has been stated in an editorial note in The Field of 
March 4th, as follows: 

" The question really is (irrespective of Mr. Laverack's veracity,) 
not whether they are pure setters, but whether they are bred from 
one brace of setters, (Ponto and Old Moll.)" 

It does not matter in the least to me whether the new Kennel 
Club definition, or the old and commonly understood one, of the 
term " pure Laverack" is accepted ; but inasmuch as I brought for- 
ward the matter of the Laverack pedigrees for the purpose of the 
general improvement of the races of sporting dogs, so soon as I be- 
came possessed of a complete line of evidence, and, further, as J have 
been attacked for allowing my dogs to trace to pedigrees which you 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 87 



have adopted, and which you now decHne to affirm the correctness 
of — although in allowing them to appear in your Kennel Club Book 
under the authority of the remark, "by rigidly excluding or point- 
ing out all doubtful pedigrees" (see Preface, vol. i., Kennel Club 
Book,) you have actually affirmed the correctness of the pedigrees — 
will you, therefore, in the next volume of the stud book^ embody the 
statement you have now made to me, and through that medium 
convey to the public the knowledge which I have given you of the 
fact that Mr. Laverack knew of a difference in purity of blood 
between his Dash and Molls and all others he, in the spring of 1872, 
had in his kennel and further state that his kennel contained at 
that time Pride of the Border, Blue Prince, the red ones, Mystery, 
Ruby, and others of the litter whjch were stated to be by Jet out of 
Duchess, and quote Mr. Laverack's words, "We cannot come at 
the genuine pure breed now Moll is gone," and the quotation in 
which he gives the history of the red ones, and his explanation of 
the colour ? 

The Kennel Club, as the publishers of the only Kennel Stud 
Book, are responsible to the public, and the public expects that the 
Kennel Club shall place all the information they possess reflecting 
on pedigrees in juxta-position to the pedigrees concerned. 

If the Kennel Club agree in this opinion I shall consider my 
protest has fully answered its purpose. If, on the contrary, they do 
not, I, for one, shall in future decline the responsibility of adopting 
their errors, which would fall on me by the fact of allowing dogs bred 
by me to trace to their Stud Books, and am fully prepared for any 
possible depreciation to my kennel which might arise thereby. 

R. Ll. Purcell Llewellin. 
South Ormsby Hall, Lincolnshire, March 14. 

The supporters of the Laveracks have tried to belittle 
the force of this report and to draw public attention from 
it by personal attacks upon Mr. Llewellin, but personal- 
ities are not arguments, and will not be accepted as 
such by men of common sense and fairness of judgment. 
They are the weapons of men forced into a corner but not 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



sufficiently manly to accept defeat in manly fashion. 
They are the weapons of the discourteous and weak, and 
resort to them, betrays that weakness and the puerility 
of character capable of such ebulitions of passion. If 
the pedigrees are reliable, why was not some proof of 
such reliability produced before the committee ? Where 
were the men who own Laveracks, and whose interests 
were imperiled by this attack upon the pedigree of their 
dogs? When, at the last meeting, Mr. Llewellin asked 
the president if any evidence had been put in on the 
other side, that he might meet it, the reply was, none at 
all. With what propriety then, do men who had nothing 
to offer in support of the pedigrees, when the opportu- 
nity to support them was presented, assail the character 
of the man who raised the question they allowed to go 
by default, or belittle the report which was forced by 
evidence too strong to be ignored? Mr. Llewellin's 
character has nothing to do with the question. It is 
simply one of fact touching the claimed breeding of a 
strain of dogs, whose pedigree has been made the foun- 
dation of a good or ruinous theory, according to the 
truth or falsehood of the pedigrees. 

How strongly at least one member of the committee 
was impressed by the evidence, and how much more 
emphatic the report would have been coming from him, 
is evinced by the following extract from a letter of Mr. 
Llewellins, in The Field, of May 20: " Since the gentle- 
man in question is an influential member of the committee 
and took a very leading part in the inquiry, I shall, of 
course, not give his name, neither his exact words, but 
will give the purport of the same." 




X 

o 



'^i H 






SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 89 

" He begins by stating, that my action has already 
done much good, in that it has shown that the original 
received idea of pure Laverack is untenable. He then 
goes on to say, there are certain facts which the public 
ought to be informed upon." 

" I — That Mr. Laverack gave an explanation of the 
appearance of red puppies 'which shows him to have 
been thoroughly untrustworthy as a witness on pedigree'." 

"2 — That the appearance of liver and white in Pride 
of the Border, Mr. Laverack accounted for in a similar 
unsatisfactory manner." 

This letter called out Mr. John A. Doyle, in The 
Field, of the week following. 

"Sir — The reference to me as a member of the Kennel Club 
committee in Mr. Llewellin's last letter makes it almost necessary 
that I should say a word on my own behalf. I have not the slightest 
objection to his citing me as a witness, nor is there anything in his 
reproduction of my opinion which I wish either to contradict or to 
modify. On one point only must I correct him. He says that my 
letter to him, which he quotes, shows "the real feeling and judg- 
ment of the committee." It would be unfair to my colleagues to 
allow that statement to go unchallenged. My letter was simply the 
private and extra-judicial expression of individual opinion, and did not 
profess to be anything more. It may perhaps be as well to add that 
the letter in question was written after the verdict of the committee 
had been formally given and made public. 

I have, as I said before, not the slightest objection to Mr. Lle- 
wellin quoting my opinion ; but, if that opinion is to be made public, 
it would be, I think, more satisfactory to your readers, and only fair 
to myself, that the grounds of the opinion should be made equally 
public. With this view, I should like to state as shortly as may be 
the chief evidence on which I formed the opinion quoted by Mr. 
Llewellin. 

In a letter written by Mr. Laverack to Mr. Llewellin, and laid 



90 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



before the committee of the Kennel Club, the following facts were 
stated : i, that Mr. Laverack had several red setters ; 2, that four of 
these were born in one litter ; 3, that none of them had any Irish 
blood ; 4, that the four were the offspring of pure English setters of 
Mr. Laverack's own strain ; 5, that the appearance of these red pup- 
pies was due to the presence of an Irish cross more than eighty years 
back, of which no trace had appeared during the intermediate years. 

Now, I ask anyone who has given a moderate amount of atten- 
tion to the breeding of dogs, or indeed any animals, to what conclu- 
sion would he come if suddenly there appeared in one litter four 
puppies of a colour wholly alien to, the breed, and unknown in it for 
nearly a century? Would it not at once be set down as the result of 
^ an outcross, designed or accidental ? 

The only conclusion at which I could arrive was, either that 
Mr. Laverack had deliberately used an Irish cross, and wished to 
conceal the fact, or that an Irish cross, had found its way in through 
accident, and that Mr. Laverack was so infatuated in favour of his 
own theory that he closed his eyes to plain facts, and fell back on an 
impossible solution. Either alternative — and I can see no other — 
effectually discredits Mr. Laverack as a witness. 

But we are asked to believe a statement extremely improbable in 
itself, namely, the descent of the Laverack setter from a single pair 
of ancestors, on the unsupported evidence of Mr. Laverack. If that 
evidence falls through, we have absolutely nothing to set off against 
the inherent improbability of the case. It must be remembered that 
this theory has been used not merely to explain how good setters had 
been bred in the past, but how they ought to be bred in the future. 

I hold that the inquiry instituted by Mr. Llewellin, and the 
evidence adduced by him, has disposed of that theory and all that 
depends on it. That, neither more nor less, was what I said in my 
letter to Mr. Llewellin, and I am glad to have this opportunity of 
repeating it publicly." John A. Doyle, 

If such is the opinion of a member of the committee, 
formed with full knovv^ledge and careful weighing of the 
evidence presented, of what comparative value are the 
opinions of the Laverack men, who not only did not put 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 9 1 

in evidence on their side, but also do not know what 
the evidence presented really was, as it has never been 
made public in its entirety? 

Such is the evidence gleaned from the papers and 
the words of Mr. Laverack and his friends. Of its value 
any disinterested man can judge for himself, and deter- 
mine too, whether it sustains the pedigree with their 
improbable " Adam and Eve" system 6f breeding, or 
shows them to be unworthy of credence. I have been 
very careful to exclude from this review of the case, 
so far as it has been possible to do so, all mention of 
Mr. Llewellin, and all quotations from his public letters, 
because I have wished to avoid the charge of appealing 
to prejudiced statements for evidence, preferring to rest 
the case upon that which is open to all and disinterested 
in character. I do not wish, however, to have this reti- 
cence misconstrued, or to be considered as in any way 
condemning Mr. Llewellin's action in raising this ques- 
tion. I therefore place myself squarely upon record by 
expressing my firm conviction that by such action he has 
earned the gratitude of all breeders of sporting dogs, 
who are honestly interested in the improvement of the 
species, by breeding upon sound principles. I believe 
the majority of sportsmen already recognize this, and that 
all but those whose theories have been overthrown with 
the Laverack card house, will join in a general award of 
thanks as soon as the present excitement has passed 
away, and cool judgment appraises the Laverack pedi- 
gree, and its Adam and Eve theory, at their true worth. 

The comparative value of breeds must be decided 
by the records of their public performance. If each 



92 . AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



breed belonged to a distinct strain, comparison would be 
easy, and the points at issue reduced to the minimum, 
but comparison of the Llewellins and Laveracks, is 
hampered by the fact that the former are in part of the 
latter blood, which is taken advantage of by the Laverack 
men, to set up the claim that the goodness of the com- 
posite breed is due to this strain. This claim is, I think, 
utterly disproved by the following facts, viz : First, that 
the blood, which apart from the Laverack makes up the 
Llewellins, is as noted and as pure as that is. Second, 
this outside blood produced winners before it was united 
with the Laverack. Third, this peculiar combination 
has produced more trial winners, and dogs of higher 
quality, than any, or all other crosses with the Laveracks. 
Fourth, the Llewellins have steadily improved upon 
past generations, while the Laveracks have produced 
but three representatives of any note as field performers, 
and those contemporaneous, a decade ago. Let us 
examine these points in detail. 

Upon page J2)y ^^ ^^^ third edition of "The Dogs 
of the British Isles," Stonehenge says: "A great many 
strains of English setters might be adduced from all 
parts of the country, but notably from the north of 
England, with claims superior to those of Mr. Laverack's 
strain up to the time of the institution of field trials. 
Among them, were the Graham and Corbet breeds, 
those of the Earl of Tankerville, Lord Waterpark, 
Mr. Bishop, Mr. Bayley, Mr. Lort, Mr. Jones (of Oscott) 
Major Cowan, Mr. Withington, Mr. Paul Hackett and 
Mr. Calver, the last two beina: a eood deal crossed 
with Gordon blood." The Llewellins are made up of 



SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 93 

the blood of Mr. Barclay Field's Duke and Mr. Statter's 
Rhoebe, or of one or both crossed to the Laverack. The 
produce of Duke and Rhcebe are as much Llewellins 
as the doofs with the Laverack cross. Duke was a son 
of Sir F. Grahams Duke out of Sir Vincent Corbet's 
Slut, and Rhoebe was got by Mr. Paul Hackett's Rake, 
so that Duke and Rhoebe from whom the Llewellin's 
spring, are descendents of breeds which Stonehenge 
says, had claims superior to the Laveracks, up to the 
institution of field trials. Starting from this point, it 
appears to me, if it can be shown that since the institu- 
tion of field trials, the Duke Rhoebe blood has held its 
own ao^ainst the Laverack, it is a fair deduction to claim 
it has maintained its previous superiority, and this I 
think the records will prove. 

Before going further, I wish to dispose of the pre- 
sumptuous assertion that the Laveracks are a breed, 
while the Llewellins are not, which I will do by quoting 
from an editorial note by Mr. Walsh (Stonehenge) in 
The Field of May 20th, 1882, viz : " it is idle to say that 
Mr. Laverack created a breed, whereas Mr. Llewellin 
has only taken advantage of materials ready made. 
Even Mr. Laverack, himself, admits that he obtained his 
Adam and Eve from a friend, and simply bred from 
them." This position will, I think, be accepted by all 
fair minded men, prejudiced declarations and learned(?) 
arguments to the contrary notwithstanding. 

Turning now to the record of the Duke Rhcebe 
blood before it was crossed with the Laverack, I find 
that Duke won at every trial he ran in during a 
period of four years, his work eliciting the highest 



94 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



commendation from the sporting press. 

Dan and Dick, the produce of Duke and Rhoebe, were 
also noted trial winners. Dan ran at but one meeting, 
as he injured his shoulder shortly after, and was phys- 
ically incapacitated for trial work, but at that meeting 
he ran in three different classes, one being the champion, 
which was regarded as the most important of trial eyents. 
In commenting upon the champion stakes, the stud book, 
which was compiled from The Field report, says : " This 
stake was regarded with great interest, as being to some 
extent a trial between the comparative merits of Mr. 
Laverack's breed, and that of Sir Bellingham Graham, 
as exhibited in Mr. Field's Duke. Bruce, described 
erroneously as by Duke, was really by Mr. Laverack's 
Dash, out of Mr. Statter's Rhoebe, while Dan was out 
of the same bitch by Duke.* * * '^ The result would 
go to show the great superiority of Duke as a stock dog 
over Dash." 

Dick won at four trials at Shrewsbury and South- 
hampton in the years 1871 and 1872. So far, at least, 
the outside blood held its own. 

That the Llewellins have produced more trial winners 
than the so called pure Laveracks, and all other crosses 
on that blood outside of the Duke Rhoebe combination, 
is simply a matter of figures which anyone can discover 
who will examine the records in the " Kennel Club Stud 
Book," and in the reports of our own field trials. That 
the Llewellins have higher quality than any others is 
proved by the fact that they have defeated the best rep- 
resentatives of all other strains. If the goodness of the 
Llewellin Setter is due to their Laverack blood, it is only 



reasonable to expect that the so called "pures," should 
produce better specimens than this combination, because 
if the Laverack is the best blood In the combination, 
its union must be a mingling of better with poorer, and 
the natural sequence of such is, that the influence of the 
poorer element will produce progeny not so good as 
when only the best influence is brought to bear. So 
too, if this Laverack blood is the best, it should show 
in some single instance at least equally good results in 
a cross, that exists in the cross to the Duke Rhoebes. 
But the records of trials show that the Laveracks have 
done nothing of late years to sustain the reputation 
made for them by Countess Nelly and Daisy, and that 
of all their crosses outside of the Llewellins, but one 
dog, viz : Mr. Macdona's Ranger, has shown first-class 
field form, yet he was beaten by four different Llewellins 
and by some of them, more than once. It is also a sig- 
nificant fact that the Llewellins defeated him in more 
trials than all the other dogs he met, both setters and 
pointers. Two things are necessary to a first-class dog, 
viz : personal quality, and the ability to perpetuate this. 
That the Laveracks have not been able to sustain the re- 
putation made for them, shows their failure in the stud, 
and joined to this we have the notorious fact of Ranger's 
almost utter worthlessness as a stock doe. No doe 
in England was as extensively bred from, owing to his 
great field reputation, yet he never succeeded in produc- 
ing offspring equal to himself ; but few of his descendents 
have been able to win any place at trials, and the conclu- 
sion that he was nowhere in comparison with such dogs 
as Dan, Count Windem, Dash II, Dashing Bondhue 



96 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



and others, Is fully justified by facts. Ranger was the 
only dog of Laverack and other blood, outside of the 
Llewelllns, that ever won any great reputation, and he 
was consequently quoted as an example of what the 
Laverack blood could produce In crossing, but this fail- 
ure of the only conspicuous Individual, proves, most 
conclusively, that the Laverack does not produce as good 
results from any other combination as from the Duke 
Rhoebe, and. If neither in the line of straight descent 
nor through other crosses, the Laveracks have vindicated 
their claimed goodness. It is certainly unfair to assume 
that the quality of the Llewelllns is due to this blood. 

It has been claimed as proof of the influence of 
Laverack blood, that some of the best Llewelllns have 
possessed a larger share of It, than of the Duke Rhoebe. 
An offset to this Is found, however, in the fact that others 
equally good have possessed less Laverack than those 
quoted as such examples, and that Dashing Ditto — prob- 
ably the best trial bitch In the world — Is stronger in the 
Duke Rhoebe than any other of the dogs Mr. Llewellln 
has run of late years. 

The progressive power of the Llewelllns is amply 
proved by their public performances. The trials this year 
were but repetitions of former victories, except that they 
were marked by even more brilliant success. The plac- 
ing of Mr. Llewellin's four entries, equal first, In their 
stake, was without precedent, and this was supplemented 
by one of the four winning the Derby, making the third 
won by Mr. Llewellln, a record without a parallel in trial 
history. This Derby winner was the fifth generation 
of consecutive winners, running back to Duke. What 



to |_- 



s p: 




SETTERS, THEIR BREEDING AND VALUE. 97 



comparison, then, can be drawn between such dogs and 
the Laveracks, whose whole reputation rests upon the 
performance of three bitches, a decade ago ? This is not 
a matter of bald assertion, but is a fact, which the 
warmest friends of the Laveracks cannot controvert. 
Prejudiced declamation carries no conviction in the 
absence of sustaining proofs, and that siich proof is 
wanting, is evident when we search the records for Lav- 
eracks that have displayed any high quality in the field 
either side of the water. What can be thoueht of a 
breed claimed by its advocates as the best, that has never 
produced a single dog of first class field quality ? Upon 
page 70, of "The Dogs of the British Isles" edition of 
1878, Stonehenge says: "No dog however, of the pure 
breed, has put in an appearance at any field trial with any 
pretension to high form." Since this assertion was made, 
no Laverack dog has disproved the insinuation it conveys^ 
by winning abroad, and though Thunder proved a 
winner here, — for which he has been lauded to the skies 
— his inferiority to the prominent Llewellins is too well 
known to admit of argument. A few Laverack bitches 
have also won, but that they deserve any mention in 
comparison with Countess, Nelly and Daisy, no man will 
pretend to claim. So that the whole reputation of the 
breed, since Countess' time, depends upon the perform- 
ance of Thunder, and these second rate bitches, ashowinp- 
which certainly does not indicate that the breed has sus- 
tained its prestige, or that it will stand comparison with 
one whose latest record is as brilliant as its earliest. 

It is true that the Laveracks have won some bench 
prizes, but apart from the fact that such prizes are 



98 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



Insignificant in comparison with those won in competi- 
tions calling out the higher and more important field 
qualities, we have also to remember that the Llewellins 
have numbered more winners of the double honors- of 
bench and trials than any other breed in existence, so 
that, turn which way you will, the Laveracks can present 
no evidence to support a claim of superiority. 

The competition of other breeds with the Llewellins 
has not been marked with any better success. That 
some individuals have proved winners cannot be denied, 
but as "one swallow does not make a summer," neither 
do these exceptional victories prove the equality of the 
breeds to which such winners belong. So long as the 
Llewellins score more winnings than any one other 
breed, its superiority is established by the most severe 
of all tests, and will be recognized by fair minded men 
despite the assaults of envious defamers, or the pre- 
sumptuous claims of those who seek to gain for other 
dogs a reputation they do not deserve, and which their 
own powers fail to sustain. 



BEST DOG FOR AMERICAN SPORTING. 



99 



CHAPTER V. 

THE BEST DOG FOR AMERICAN SPORTING. 

THERE are five varieties of dogs adapted to American 
field sports, but of these two have a comparatively 
limited sphere of usefulness. All of our sporting is 
done with setters, pointers, spaniels and hounds of the 
varieties I have mentioned, and the object of this chapter 
will be to show which of the three former is best calcu- 
lated to most fully meet the requirements of the 
sportsman who seeks a dog for general work. 

I n considering this question intelligently, a due regard 
must be had for the circumstances of our sportsmen, 
and the nature and peculiarities of our hunting grounds 
and game birds. As the surface of our country presents 
every variety of ground frequented by the sportsman, 
and the birds which we seek are very diverse in char- 
acter, it is evident that to fully meet all requirements 
a kennel of several breeds might be maintained and 
hunted to advantage ; but as an offset to this we have 
the fact that but very few are in such circumstances, 
either pecuniarily or in point of habitation, as to allow 
of the keeping up of such an extensive establishment. 
The g'reat majority keep but one dog, and with this 
they expect to do general work ; consequently they want 
the best dog for work at all times and over all kinds of 
country, whether brake, bog or upland. 



lOO AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

The honor of first place must lie between the setter 
and pointer, since, as we shall presently see, the spaniel 
has such a narrow field for the display of his qualities 
that he is practically entirely out of the competition. 
With the field thus reduced to two, a choice can be fairly 
made, since we have only to give the dogs a thorough 
test by actual work, and select that one which shows 
the greater capacity for adapting himself to all wants. 

I have said that the spaniel has a limited sphere, 
and is consequently unable to compete with either pointer 
or setter, but lest I be accused of injustice towards this 
willing and faithful little fellow, I will pause a moment 
to consider what his uses are. Accordinof to his most 
ardent admirers his proper place Is in the thick covers 
haunted by the ruffed grouse, or woodcock, and his work 
consists in findinof these birds and flushlngf them for the 
gun, first giving notice of the game by a whimper that 
swells into a sharp yelp as the bird takes wing. Now, 
granting (to save argument upon this point) that this 
is the most sportsmanlike and killing way of hunting 
cover, it must at least be conceded that the spaniel is of 
no use in the open, where from staunchness at point we 
can allow dogs thus endowed to range over ten times 
the ground, and consequently to find ten times the game, 
that a spaniel could, since he must be hunted within 
gun-shot all- the time in order to give any shots. Very 
little of our shooting Is in such thick cover that a good 
bush shot cannot go up to his setter when on a point 
and kill his bird as it rises. I have indeed seen such 
places, and have often found birds quite plentiful in 
them, owing to the fact that the difficulty of the shoot- 



BEST DOG FOR AMERICAN SPORTING. lOI 

ing kept hunters away. Under such circumstances 
spaniels would certainly prove killing dogs, though no- 
where else can they, in my opinion, compare with either 
setters or pointers, and even in such places a setter or 
pointer that Is taught to flush at command will equal the 
best spaniel. I know, too, that some men use them to 
tree ruffed grouse ; but as I am writing for sportsmen 
who would scorn to pot this gallant bird, and who esteem 
a bag not for its numbers but for the skill by which 
it is obtained, I will not make further mention of this 
practice, but pass on, considering that I have sustained 
my assertion regarding the spaniel. 

The dog that we want must work equally well in 
cover and open. He must be fast and staunch enough 
to range the stubbles or prairies for the quail or pinnated 
grouse, and tough and enduring enough to hunt day after 
day through cat-briers and thickets for woodcock and ruff- 
ed grouse, and over wet, cold marsh lands for spring snipe. 
Both pointers and setters have their warm friends and 
advocates, but in my opinion the Setter is far the most 
generally useful animal, and consequently the dog for 
this country. In support of this estimate I quote again 
from Laverack, who says : " That the setter is the most 
generally useful of shooting dogs, I fancy few will deny, 
being possessed of more lasting powers of endurance, 
therefore better adapted for all localities and weathers. 
The setter can stand cold or heat alike ; the hair on his 
feet and between his toes allows him to hunt rough 
cover as well as the spaniel." In the course of thirty 
years' experience in the field I have met with a great 
many dogs, and have seen pointers and setters thoroughly 



I02 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



tested together, yet have never found the pointer that 
could follow a good setter day after day through a sea- 
son, beginning with snipe in March and ending with 
quail and ruffed grouse in December, nor do I believe 
the pointer ever existed that could do this. It has never 
been my fortune to hunt in the extreme Southern 
States, and I know the pointer is very popular there, so 
I will concede him superiority in those portions where 
the ground is dry and open and the climate hot ; I will 
also grant that for grouse-shooting on the prairies from 
August 1 5 to September i o he can beat the setter, because 
generally the prairies are then very dry and the setter 
needs water even more than the pointer; but here his 
superiority ends : each of these dogs has his sphere, and 
this is the pointer's. It is, however, limited both in ex- 
tent and in time, for no sooner have the extreme heats 
of summer passed than the setter can go to the prairies 
and do fully as good work as the pointer, proving him- 
self in all respects equal on the pointer's own ground, 
while the latter dog cannot follow the setter over cold 
marshs for spring snipe, nor through the frost-hardened, 
thorny covers where the fall woodland game birds dwell. 
These assertions are not matters of mere personal 
opinion, for they are susceptible of proof, and I know 
that they are endorsed by most if not all of our practi- 
cally experienced sportsmen, as well as foreign authorities, 
one of whom — ''Stonehenge" — bears the following tes- 
timony : " Moreover, where there is not heather there 
are bogs, both in Irish and Scotch moors, and on wet 
ground the setter is also better than the pointer, as he is 
more enduring of fatigue, cold and wet," 



BEST DOG FOR AMERICAN SPORTING. 



103 



I have heard of pointers which had pluck enough to 
face the thickest cover, and whose owners would back 
them against any setter ; but such dogs have generally 
belonged to gentlemen who could leave their business 
for only an occasional day, and as their dogs performed 
well upon such occasions they deemed it conclusive evi- 
dence that they would do equally well on all, when the 
fact is that such limited tests really form no standard 
for just judgment. 

The men who work their dogs more severely than 
any others are the market shooters, whose occupation 
calls them to the field daily through the entire season. 
I have known many such, but never one who did not 
prefer the setter to the pointer, except for the specialty 
of prairie shooting in August and early September, and 
as such men have better opportunities than any others 
for testing the endurance of both dogs, their opinion is 
entitled to as much weight as Stonehenge allows to 
masters of fox hounds upon the points of those dogs. 
The most sceptical admirer of pointers can, however, 
satisfy himself upon their endurance, if he will give it a 
fair trial, not of an occasional day, but of four months 
honest hard work. Let him start the dogs together on a 
prairie, the first of September and work east to New Eng- 
land, and before the middle of December, I will stake my 
reputation, the pointer will be unable to leave his kennel 
if he is working against a setter worthy of the name. 
I am not prejudiced upon the comparative merits of 
these dogs by the fact that I own setters. For many 
years I shot over the best pointers money could buy, and 
I fancy, too, those old time dogs could outstay the flashy 



I04 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

flyers which the speed craze has developed, at any rate 
their skins were tougher and better fitted to stand briers, 
but the best of them went down when tried against set- 
ters, and I was forced to give them up or keep more dogs 
than my friends to do the same amount of work. For 
fifteen years of my early sporting life, I shot each season 
with a friend who hunted for the market (though I 
never sold a bird in my life except when I have gone to 
the prairies, and like other men have sent my surplus 
birds to a dealer, rather than allow them to spoil and be 
an utter waste) during this time I had an opportunity to 
test pointers thorotigJily, and became convinced of their 
inability to stand work with setters, so that my present 
choice is based upon no scanty experience. 

Leaving the question of endurance, there is another 
mooted point worthy of consideration — viz : nose. This 
is a more dif^cult matter to settle than the other, but the 
records of field trials show that where the two breeds 
have been brought into competition, the pointers have 
been beaten with but few exceptions. In England, 
pointers and setters are run in separate classes in many 
stakes, but there is generally a prize for the best dog of 
either breed, in order to get at the actual winner ; this 
brings together the winners in their respective classes, 
and the setter victories are therefore specially indicative 
of superiority in this most important quality as well as 
others. The old Spanish pointer was very possibly the 
best nosed of all sporting dogs, but the various crosses 
which have been introduced in developing the modern 
dog, while resulting in great general improvement, have, 
I think, reduced his scenting power below that possessed 



li^^ ft 




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BEST DOG FOR AMERICAN SPORTING. I05 



by the old Spaniard. Certainly the superiority of the 
setter's nose is declared by the expressed convictions of 
prominent authorities. For, turning again to Laverack, 
I find the following words : " There is no doubt that £:ood 
<5r^^ setters are quite as keen of nose as pointers." An- 
other writer — Daniel — in his work on "Rural Sports," 
says of setters : "Their noses are undoubtedly superior." 
Again, the friends of the pointer claim that he is easier 
to break than the setter, and less inclined to grow rank 
for want of work. I will admit this with certain limi- 
tations, viz: that the pointer, from his more quiet 
disposition and comparative lack of the dash and fire pecu- 
liar to the setter, is an easier dog for an inexperienced 
man to handle, and for the same reason he will not show 
so wild at the first of a season, after months of nedect : 
but for an experienced breaker, or any man who stud- 
ies his dog's nature, I think the setter's dash is an extra 
attraction, and my own experience shows me that the 
setter is less likely to be sullen in disposition and is 
generally a more willing ^^Vi^'A than the pointer. As for 
rankness, that Is the fault of the owner alone, for if he will 
give his dog reasonable exercise and keep him under 
control, by a few moments of daily yard-work, he will 
find there is no difficulty in securing prompt obedience 
and steady work the first day he takes the field. If a 
man cannot do this he should put his dog into the hands 
of a steady, reliable breaker, who will do it for him ; and 
if he will do neither, as I said before, it is his own fault 
if he has a wild dog at the opening of the shooting, and 
I do not believe in condemning the dog for his master's 
fault. 



I06 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. - 

There remains yet one point to be brought forward 
In favor of the setter, viz : retrieving. I claim the setter 
a better general retriever because he will retrieve from 
water, while as a rule the pointer will not. It frequently 
happens that a sportsman gets a day's duck shooting, 
but has so little of this that it will not pay him to keep 
a regular duck dog, yet if he lives in the west or can slip 
away to some resort of water-fowl, he wants a dog to 
bring his birds from the water. Mr. J. W. Long, in 
his very interesting and valuable work on American 
wild-fowl shooting, speaks in strong terms of the setter 
as a duck retriever, and as he probably had as extensive 
experience as any man in the West in this branch of 
sport, his opinion is certainly worthy of regard. I have 
both heard of and seen pointers that would face cold 
water, and even break their way through thin ice to 
retrieve, but where you find one which will do this you 
will find a hundred that will not enter the water at all, 
except in warm weather. On the other hand, the setter, 
from his spaniel origin, can always be made a good water 
retriever by proper handling, and though not so enduring 
for constant water-work as a dog whose habits are more 
naturally aquatic, he will render good service in this line ; 
and as we are supposed to be seeking a dog with the 
most varied and general powers of attainment, this is 
certainly worthy of note, and justly entitles him to a 
higher rank than a dog which cannot be thus used. 

My deductions from the foregoing are: If a man 
lives in a wooded country abounding in small patches 
of thick cover and is not a orood enoueh shot to kill his 
birds therein, let him use a spaniel to drive the birds out ; 



BEST DOG FOR AMERICAN SPORTING. 10/ 

if he lives in a hot, dry country and never shoots else- 
where, a pointer will suit him best; but if he wants a 
dog for all kinds of work, and over which he can kill 
every variety of game bird with the least regard to cover, 
footing, or temperature, let him get a high-couraged 
pure-blooded setter, intelligently handle and break him, 
treat him well, and fear no form of dog that can be 
brought against him. Such a dog I pronounce the best 
animal for American upland shooting. 

I have given no consideration to the dropper, or cross 
between setter and pointer, in speaking of the doo-s 
worthy to be made the companions and faithful servants 
of the sportsman. This has not been an oversight, but 
a deliberate reserve, growing out of the conviction that 
this dog is utterly worthless, and not deserving of a 
place among our favorites. While I was editing the 
American Spo^dsman a sharp controversy was carried 
on in that paper, in the course of which the champions 
of the dropper tried to prove that he is all his master's 
fancy paints him, but in so doing they were brought 
face to face with every recognized authority upon kennel 
matters, who state emphatically that droppers are curs. 
These assertions are not based upon prejudice unwar- 
ranted by facts, for droppers have been bred and tested 
thoroughly in England, and if they are no longer recog- 
nized there as sporting dogs, it is because experience 
has produced their condemnation. Even allowing that 
this cross gives a good working dog in the first gener- 
ation, he certainly is no better than a straight bred setter 
or pointer, and even this possible virtue is short lived, 
since the second generation is always an utter failure. 



io8 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



This Is the verdict of every English writer, and that 
breeders agree with it is proved by the fact that no 
droppers are to be found in any reputable kennel. 
There is not a writer of the present time, who says a 
word in favor of the cross-bred dog. 



BREEDING. IO9 



CHAPTER VI., 

BREEDING. 

BREEDING, in the present acceptation of the term, 
means something more than the mere reproduction 
of species. Formerly, all that was considered necessary 
was that the parent dogs should be good field perform- 
ers, and no stress was laid upon blood, antecedents, or 
adaptability to each other. This course was followed 
from a blind confidence in the rule that " like begets like," 
but experience has shown that, for this to hold true, 
there must be present certain controling conditions, too 
frequently absent in the past. If this was an infallible 
law, and field qualities were all was that necessary, then 
these, when present in the parents, would exert a suffi- 
ciently strong influence upon their progeny to overcome 
all bad tendencies arising from impure blood ; but that 
it Is not so has been amply proved by the constant failure 
of offspring to equal their parents. There is but one 
safe foundation to build upon, and that is a stock that 
for many years, and from generation to generation, has 
displayed the same marked characteristics and attributes. 
Even this will not In a/l cases give the desired results, 
but the exceptions will be much less striking and numer- 
ous than where the influences of pure blood and approved 
qualities are neglected. Blood tells in everything, and 
thouo-h occasionally we see some scion of an illustrious 



no AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



race entirely unworthy of his Hneage, it is certainly safe 
to say that for one such instance there will be twenty 
found in the more plebeian ranks which have no such 
records to boast of. 

Breeding is a science that is but imperfectly under- 
stood in this country, where until lately but little attention 
has been given to its fundamental principles. To be 
successfully carried out the physical and instinctive 
characteristics, as well as the keenness of certain senses 
of individual animals, must be studied and thoroughly 
comprehended. By physical characteristics, I mean the 
good and bad points of formation, as well as speed, 
style and endurance ; by instinctive : intelligence, dispo- 
sition, point, staunchness, caution and love of hunting ; 
by the senses, I refer to what is called "nose," not only 
in keenness to detect scent, but in power to follow it out 
under unfavorable circumstances. It may seem at first 
sight that a dog which shows good nose in any way, 
will not be deficient in the ability I have last mentioned, 
but in the course of my experience I have seen many 
that would point at long distances when the scent came 
directly from the birds, yet could not road a faint trail, 
seeming to lose it in its devious windings. Any sports- 
man who will look back over the days he has spent in the 
field, will, I think, recall many instances where cunning 
birds have puzzled and finally got away from the dogs, 
and in view of the frequency of such examples, will 
agree with me that a good roader is rare. I will admit 
that many dogs gain in roading ability with age and ex- 
perience, but this is simply due to increased knowledge 
how to use their noses, and to experience in the ways 



BREEDING. I I I 



of the game. Some dogs never acquire this ability, 
though, as I have said before, they display unquestionably 
good noses in other ways, hence I am led to believe It 
a special faculty, though of course dependent upon 
keeness of scenting power. 

All these attributes are essential to a first-class dosf, 
but first-class ones are exceptional. Since, however, 
they are so important they should be bred for, and the 
mating of individuals be determined by their ability to 
strengthen these qualities when present in both, or to 
supply them when lacking in one by their preponderance 
in the other. 

It is thought by many careful observers that the 
male controls the form, and the female the mental or 
instinctive qualities ; this theory being supported by the 
claim that as the bitch is most intimately associated 
with her progeny during the time that they receive in- 
fluence while in embryo, she naturally controls their 
higher powers. Something, of course, must be conceded 
to the dog, and to him form is consigned, as this may 
be governed by less potent influences. Though I am 
not prepared to go to the extent of yielding entire con- 
trol of the higher qualities to the female, I do believe 
she exerts a stronger Influence than the male as a rule. 
I know that the progeny of a gun shy dam are more 
likely to display the same failure, than from a bold dam 
and a shy sire. I could also quote other evidence in 
support of my views, but be the main theory right or 
wrong, I do not believe in breeding from a bitch that 
is deficient in any of the higher essential qualities. It 
is true that the progeny of such, can be bred up to the 



112 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

highest standard in time, but this will require judicious 
mating, which the occasional breeder may very possibly 
not find opportunities for, and in any event it will be 
perpetuating deficiencies for correction. Of course, men 
who own fairly good bitches will not discard them as 
breeders because of their imperfections, but in writing 
of theories I must presuppose the most favorable condi- 
tions. An imperfect bitch must be sent to as nearly as 
possible a perfect dog, and the man who owns a dog 
that is deficient in some quality, yet from which he 
wishes to breed, must select a bitch that is specially 
strong where the dog is weak, and thus endeavor to 
obtain progeny that will be an improvement upon the 
sire. 

As promiscuous breeding, no matter how a single 
union may result, will never produce a good strain of 
dogs, we must be careful in selecting stock animals to 
get those with blood derived in unbroken course from a 
line of proved excellence, endowed with race character- 
istics. By race characteristics, I mean the possession 
by all members of the breed of the same attributes, 
though of course these will vary in degree with individuals. 
The establishment of race characteristics insures their 
reproduction in succeeding generations, with only such 
individual exceptions as occur in all races from man 
down through the lowest orders of creation. Uniformity 
In attributes can only be found in the purest breeds 
and its exhibition is certainly a proof of purity. Each 
strain has its characteristics, and mixing blood must 
therefore result in a marked variation that is the very 
opposite of uniformity, and utterly destructive to any 




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o 

1 — ( 

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Pi'" 

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BREEDING. 



113 



predetermination of the result of a contemplated union. 
Breeding in mixed blood is a matter of mere guess work, 
but pure blood gives as sure a guaranty of progeny, 
worthy of their descent, as can be obtained of anything 
that is yet to be. By mixing blood I refer to speculative 
crossing, and not to those well known breeds that have 
been made up of different strains. No matter what the 
origin of a family or breed may be, when it has been 
confined to certain lines of blood long enough to have 
established characteristic attributes, it is entitled to a 
name as a breed, and may be depended on to reproduce 
its characteristics. If, then, strange blood with its influ- 
ence be introduced, new exhibitions will follow as a 
natural sequence, and what those exhibitions will be 
— whether good or bad — can never be determined in 
advance. Again, when a breed has established a repu- 
tation for fine quality It Is folly to run the risk of 
destroying this by experiments. To " let well enouo-h 
alone" is a sound principle, and hereditary goodness is 
a far more reliable foundation than can be found in the 
shifting sands of experimental crossing. 

There Is one- danger, however, to be guarded against 
In sticking to blood, and that is excessive inbreeding. 
Dogs may be interbred — that Is, bred within the lines 
of certain strains — for many generations, not only with- 
out Injury but with absolute Improvement, because such 
Interbreeding is the only course through which race 
characteristics can be established and intensified. Breed- 
ing between the descendents of the same parents is, 
however, destructive If persisted In, because the bad 
qualities— both physical and mental — are Intensified as 



114 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



well as the good ones, and consequently there can be 
no improvement, and as Nature never stands still, if 
there is not an advance there will surely soon be a 
retreat. 

When I speak of the same attributes being common 
to all members of the same breed, I do not refer in 
Setters to that "sortiness" or physical likeness which is 
esteemed in foxhounds, but to the common possession 
of good forms and superior field quality. To attempt 
to produce sortiness of appearance in setters must, I 
think, result in greater loss than gain, because in striving 
for this, more valuable qualities will be sacrificed. Take 
as examples the Llewellin and Laverack setters. Simi- 
larity of form is not a characteristic of the former, 
though in field quality they surpass all others. This 
form variation is due to the fact that Mr. Llewellin has 
bred his dogs for work rather than for show. I do not 
mean that his dogs are ill formed or not adapted for the 
bench, as that would be at once disproved by their bench 
record. Individually they are grand, because the form 
best adapted for hard work must be the best possible in 
construction and proportion ; this the Llewellins have, 
but collectively, they are not sorty. If a dozen Llewellins 
and a dozen Laveracks are put together, the family 
resemblance of the latter will be much greater than of 
the former, yet the Llewellins will be as well formed 
individually. Sortiness of either appearance or field 
quality, can only be obtained by close confinement to 
certain lines of blood, though this need not be carried to 
the extent of mating members of the same family. The 
Llewellins are interbred ; they are made up of certain 



BREEDING. II5 



Strains to which I have referred in a past chapter, but 
they are not inbred Hke the Laveracks. The Adam 
and Eve theory of the Laverack pedigrees is contrary 
to all experience, and for this reason, even if no other 
evidence of unreHabihty existed, those pedigrees would 
be discredited by all who place more confidence in scien- 
tific principles, than in the word of any individual, but 
though the Laveracks were not inbred as their breeder 
asserted, the blind acceptance of his pedigrees has led 
to an amount of inbreeding of late years, which has 
impaired the working qualities of the dogs, though it 
has impressed upon them the family resemblance now 
so marked. This resemblance is much more noticeable 
of late years than formerly, which of itself, shows that 
the dogs were not Inbred then as now. Certain parties 
have attempted to prove that the Laveracks are bred 
just as their pedigree shows, because this family resem- 
blance would be destroyed by crossing, but this argument 
is not applicable to the pedigrees, because the marked 
resemblance in question is a thing of comparatively 
recent origin, and has been established since the time 
when Mr. Laverack made his crosses, by subsequent 
inbreeding. This is not a matter of mere assertion, but 
is the evidence of gentlemen in England, who have 
known the dogs for many years. 

"Sortlness" In setters Is thus shown to be attainable 
only by a degree of Inbreeding which Is attended by 
depreciation of qualities more Important than mere 
resemblance between Individuals of the same breed. 
Good form is essential, because without It work cannot 
be kept up for any length of time, but when this form 



Il6 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

IS present, it matters not that even brothers do not 
resemble each other so closely that their relationship 
can be recognized at a elance. 

Having- secured blood of approved quality, we must 
make sure of correct form and field qualities of the 
highest order. Correct form is that typical of the breed, 
and is described by Stonehenge as laid down in a pre- 
vious chapter. Color, in my opinion, should be regarded 
only so far as to see that it belongs to the breed, simply 
as breeding stock for dogs of working ability, show limi- 
tations In color, may be discarded with benefit, since 
in seeking color, many of the best dogs of a breed are 
discarded because not marked to the show standard, but if 
a man wants show dogs as well as breeders, he must con- 
form to the standard in this respect also. 

For breeding stock, or in selecting a dog to which to 
send a fine bitch, nothing but the very best field quality 
should satisfy a man who cares at all for the reputation 
of his kennel. No matter how well bred a dog may be, 
nor how many prizes he has taken upon the bench, he 
should not be bred from If he is deficient in field qual- 
ity, as a portion, at least, of his progeny will Inherit this, 
as they would any other deficiency. What greater folly 
can there be than sendlno- a fine field bitch to a dosf 
that is not a fielder, yet this has been repeatedly done. 
Some dogs which have been greatly sought after in the 
stud, have been utterly valueless In the field. They have 
sired many good whelps from the prepotency of their 
own blood and the quality of the bitches, but they have 
also sired a great many poor ones. The very best of 
dogs will occasionally beget a degenerate whelp, but 



BREEDING. 



117 



these dogs have begot more than occasional bad ones, 
and the only reason these have not been more conspic- 
uous is, that they have been scattered all over the country, 
and, as in all such cases, only the good ones are heard of. 
If the services of such a dog were confined to a given 
locality, so that the quality of his entire get was properly 
exposed, the number of his failures would satisfy the 
most sceptical, that he was unfit for stud use. A dog 
markedly deficient in physical attributes would not be 
bred from, — with what propriety, then, are the most valu- 
able qualities ignored? 

A by no means unimportant point is the age at 
which stock animals begin to show their field qualities. 
Some dogs take to work much younger than others, 
and the former will be very apt to transmit their own 
precocity. It is true a puppy should not be put into the 
field till he has strength and age to endure the strain 
without injury, but undeniably it is far more satisfactory 
to see him show promise of future goodness, than to 
wait months to know if he will pay for the trouble of 
raising him. 

As a bitch with ability to produce large litters is 
more valuable as a breeder than any other, the form 
best adapted for this should be regarded in selection. 
Form does not, however, necessarily indicate ability, as 
some notoriously large breeders have been bitches 
whose size and build were apparently greatly against 
them, but upon general principles a roomy, rangy body 
allows room for the foetus and predisposes the dam to 
easy delivery, better than a compact form and closely 
knit bones. Length must not, hovever, be carried so 



ii8 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



far as to produce slackness of loins, or there will be weak- 
ness at this point which will be transmitted. 

The question whether a bad first connection exerts 
influence upon subsequent progeny, is one upon which 
opinions differ. That it does in some cases would seem 
unquestionable, as marked instances of it have been 
noticed in all animals. In my opinion this depends 
upon the individual peculiarities of the dam, some 
females being both more susceptible to influences, and 
more retentive of them than others. No man can deter- 
mine in advance what their peculiarities will be, and 
consequently good sense dictates that we avoid possible 
bad results by selecting such a mate for a bitch in her 
first warding, as will not only produce a good litter from 
that union, but also will exert a desirable influence If any 
upon the later offspring. 

However the above question should be decided, I 
am a firm believer in parental influence, that is, influence 
exerted upon the progeny while in embryo by the dam. 
To what extent this can be carried I am not prepared 
to say, but not in my opinion commonly so far as the 
old time theory of marking goes. There are but few 
medical men of the day. who believe that the monstros- 
ities or peculiar phenomena sorhetimes exhibited by 
offspring, are due to special and definite causes, because 
investigation and experience has shown, that these are 
produced as natural sequences of defective nutrition of 
the foetus, or habits of life, and it is more reasonable to 
account for such exhibitions upon natural grounds, than 
upon that of undemonstrable theory. It is possible 
that specially sensitive or susceptible bitches may upon 



BREEDING. 



119 



rare occasions, be Impressed by circumstances rousing 
strong emotion, and stamp these impressions upon their 
progeny. I have seen a few cases that I could only 
account for in this way, but I believe such are excep- 
tional and cannot be taken as establishing a rule. The 
Influence to which I refer affects the instinctive and not 
the physical attributes. I think early development of 
the love of hunting can be induced, and the field quali- 
ties of the progeny enhanced, by hunting the dam while 
pregnant. I have tried this repeatedly, and seen a 
marked difference In the whelps of the same parents in 
different litters, when the bitch was or was not hunted. 
I believe that the whelps of a bitch thus worked, are 
less liable to be gun shy or timid in the field, even if 
they are timid out of it, and that with even a high cour- 
aged bitch, If she Is kept In seclusion, or left to lie round 
her kennel during pregnancy, her whelps will show less 
general courage, and be more easily made timid by bad 
management, than those of a bitch that, so to speak, is 
taken out into the world by her master. I cannot see 
anything unreasonable In this. Sporting dogs must 
have keen sensibilities and strongly developed field 
Instincts, and It appears to me that by producing strong 
emotional excitement through the dam's love for the 
field, at a time when her whelps are receiving from her 
the elements of their future life, this excitememt may be 
made to react upon them, and mould their character- 
istics accordingly. So, too, if a pregnant bitch Is allowed 
to lead a dull lethagic existence, her whelps may very 
easily be influenced by this, and when brought face to 
face later with circumstances which rouse their fears, 



I20 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

they may not have sufficient ambition to resist these. 
I am not alone in this behef, as I have compared views 
frequently with men of experience and judgment, and 
have found that where their attention has been directed 
to these points, their conclusions have coincided with 
my own, I therefore offer this theory with confidence 
to my readers, and believe it will be productive of much 
good to those who will accept and follow it. 

Another point upon which men differ is whether sex 
can be determined or controled in any way. Many 
theories have been advanced upon this, and it has re- 
ceived its full share of scientific investigation. To quote 
these theories would exceed the length of this article, 
so I will refer my readers to medical works, and simply 
say the conflict of opinions shows that no certain method 
has yet been discovered, as all are dependent upon con- 
ditions which may or may not be present. That sex 
is in no way affected by the period of heat in which a 
bitch is served, I have, I think, conclusively proved. I 
have tested this theory in one hundred and thirty-two 
cases of bitches sent to my dogs, and have utterly failed 
to produce a preponderance of sex. Such an extensive 
test would seem to settle this point beyond dispute, and 
in any event is more worthy of credence than the evi- 
dence of individual instances where the desired sex has 
been apparently produced by certain action, yet may in 
truth have been due to entirely different though undis- 
covered circumstances. 

The age at which dogs can be bred from with due 
regard to the production of good offspring, depends 
entirely upon the Individuals. It is purely a matter of 



BREEDING. 12 1 



development, and as individuals vary in this to a marked 
degree, no time limit can be fixed. So, too, individuals 
retain their physical vigor longer than others, and may 
therefore be bred from at an age when others are incap- 
able of producing good progeny. As soon as full 
development has taken place, and as long as the physical 
powers are unimpaired, dogs may be bred from with 
impunity. Size, however, must not be mistaken for 
development, as an abnormally large dog may be fully 
as weak and unfit to breed as an abnormally small one. 
It is not possible to give any fixed rule by which devel- 
opment can be determined, but it is safe to say that 
until growing has ceased, and the muscles have become 
full and hard, maturity has not been reached. Females 
arrive at maturity earlier than males, but as the burden 
of maternity is heavier than that imposed by the act of 
begetting, it is specially important that the female be 
fully established in her strength before being subjected 
to this strain. 

I do not design to consider in this work cases where 
any difficulty in parturition is encountered, because I do 
not believe any mere written directions will enable an. 
amateur to perform the necessary operations. Edward 
Mayhew, an English veterinary surgeon, gives an elabo- 
rate treatise upon this subject in his capital work on the 
dog, which I recommend for the perusal of all interested, 
yet in every case would advise calling in a competent 
practitioner rather than by a series of at best doubtful 
experiments peril the life of both dam and ofi'sprino-. 
With a little care and attention to keeping the bitch in 
proper condition while pregnant, Nature may well be 



122 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



trusted to do the rest, and bring the whelps safely Into 
the world. 

We will now consider the whelps born, and every- 
thing progressing favorably. It will be better now to 
allow the bitch as much freedom as possible, giving her 
the run of the yard, as there will be no danger of her 
leaving the whelps long enough to do them an injury, 
while the exercise and lack of constraint will be benefi- 
cial to herself. She should be fed twice a day while 
suckling her whelps, and the food should be ample and 
nutritious, but not profuse in quantity. It should be 
of a sloppy character, as this will tend to make milk and 
keep the bitch from becoming constipated. 

As a rule, no medicines will be needed, but if the 
fever runs high after whelping, single drop doses of fluid 
Ext. of Aconite root may be given every three hours in 
a little water, till the temperature is reduced to normal. 
If constipation sets In a small dose of castor oil will act 
beneficially. 

The number of whelps a bitch can take care of varies 
with Individuals, and the only rule for guidance is the 
condition of both mother and offspring. If she grows 
thin it is evident the drain upon her is more than she can 
support. So, too. If some of the whelps stand still or fall 
off In condition. It Is a sign they do not get enough food. 
In all litters there will be some whelps smaller than 
others, and if the supply of milk is not ample for all, 
these weaker ones will get pushed off, and will die of 
starvation. A very few hours will decide the fate of a 
young puppy. The first signs of depreciation will hard- 
ly be noticeable by ordinary observers, though they will 



BREEDING. 1 23 



be detected by an experienced eye. There will be a 
slight roughness or staring of the coat ; the white will 
have a golden or yellow tinge and there will be an un- 
usual prominence of the hip bones, and of the ribs. 
When these symptoms are noticed only prompt action 
will save the pup. He must be at once put with a fos- 
ter mother, and care must be taken to see that he sucks. 
In all cases where there are Indications of a large litter 
a foster mother should be provided, as many complica- 
tions may arise where her services will be needed. As 
the full flow of milk comes generally about the third 
day, the foster mother should whelp three or four days 
before the one whose whelps she is to take. Any strong 
healthy bitch oi good courage and habits will do for this 
purpose, but one not so endowed should not be selected 
for reasons I will give later. 

As all young whelps are liable to fleas and lice, the 
Interior of the kennel should be thoroughly whitewashed 
with quick lime, and a sufficient quantity of carbolic acid. 
This should be occasionally renewed, and the whole 
place kept as clean and pure as possible. In case this 
fails to eradicate the vermin, Persian powder should be 
liberally blown into the hair of both the bitch and whelps 
with a powder gun. The place where the bitch lies 
should also be thoroughly dusted with the powder, and 
entirely new bedding supplied. No fear need be felt 
for bad effects upon the whelps, as the powder is pos- 
itively harmless, even if it should be taken into the 
stomach while suckling. 

At the end of four weeks the whelps may be fed a 
little with bread and milk; this will relieve the bitch, 



124 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 



besides weaning the whelps, which should be ready to 
leave the dam by the time they are six or seven weeks 
old. After weaning, their food should be old corn meal, 
well cooked, with a small quantity of meat scraps and 
vegetables boiled up in it, and, for a change, rice and 
bread. When, however, scraps from the table can be 
had, they are still better, provided all meat given is well 
cooked and in small quantities, mixed with plenty of 
vegetables and bread. 

As it sometimes happens that the bitch Is required 
for field use shortly after weaning her whelps. It is cus- 
tomary to use some preparation for drying up her milk. 
There are many applications which will do this, but an 
effectual and safe one Is camphorated sweet oil rubbed 
upon the udder twice a day. If there is much fever, 
aconite must be gfiven as directed above. 

A great error Into which inexperienced breeders fall Is 
that of supposing that nothing can be done with whelps 
at a very early age. On the contrary, very much of 
their future usefulness and value Is determined by their 
treatment, even before they leave the dam. Dogs, young 
and old, are imitative, and for this reason I have said a 
foster mother should be of ''good courage and habits," 
for though she cannot exert any influence upon the 
whelps through her milk, she certainly can by her ex- 
ample. A timid bitch that Is dodging and running 
Into her kennel at every noise will be apt to make some, 
if not all, of the whelps timid as herself, and very often 
this will take the form of gun shyness when the dog is 
taken into the field, later. So, too. If she has bad habits, 
such as running away from home, killing chickens or 



BREEDING. 



125 



sucking eggs, she will teach these to her whelps if they are 
not taken from her as soon as they begin to run round. 

From the time the whelps are eight weeks old they 
should be allowed as much liberty as possible, and cer- 
tainly should be let out of the kennel every day, as by 
running at large, they become used to strange sights 
and sounds, and are thus saved from timidity. They 
should never be roughly treated or punished for any act 
at this age, but all should tend to inspire them with 
confidence and rouse their affection for those about 
them. After a while, various noises may be made at a 
little distance from them, and these changed and increased 
as they become used to them, till at last, by degrees, they 
are brought up to hear the gun without fear. 

By encouraging them to climb upon boxes or other 
similar objects, they become handy in crossing fences 
and thus will be saved from the awkwardness which so 
many dogs display when first taken into the field. These 
may seem little things in themselves, but the man who 
tries them fairly will become satisfied that they exert no 
trifling or insignificant influence upon the subsequent 
career of the dog. 

I am often asked if it does any harm to allow a 
puppy to point by sight, and I say emphatically, no ! 
up to the time he is taken into the field. A puppy can- 
not have too much point provided it is at living objects, 
and by indulgence in it, his field instincts are fostered 
and strengthened. When field work begins, a little care 
joined to the greater pleasure derived from game scent 
will correct the habit and teach him to point only the 
objects of legitimate pursuit. 



126 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



CHAPTER VII. 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 

AT the outstart of this chapter I wish It to be under- 
stood that I am writing for amateur breakers onlyy 
and that I advise all sportsmen to break their own dogs 
rather than employ a professional. I do not say this 
from any personal prejudice against professional dog 
breakers, many of whom are very honorable men, but 
because I am thoroughly convinced, that ninety-nine 
men out of each hundred can, with a little experience, 
break their own dogs zvell, and that they will really take 
more satisfaction with them, both while in breaking and 
afterwards, than they can with even the most perfectly 
broken animals, which, from being associated with and 
handled by other persons, must ever be to their owners 
ready-made articles, and not the work of their own hands. 
Again, I know that very frequently a dog which has 
been thoroughly broken by a professional (tutored to 
understand and obey every command, and to feel that 
he is constantly under the eye of one who will detect his 
most trivial disobedience) will, when he goes to a new 
master, deliberately do things which he knows to be 
wrong, apparently to see if he cannot Impose upon him 
and have his own way ; and if (as is too frequently the 
case) he finds that his master, either from inexperience 
or confidence In the breaking he has received, pays no 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 12/ 

attention to these acts, he soon abandons all regard for 
commands and follows the dictates of his inclination 
alone. This is really the reason why dogs which are 
broken by even good breakers so frequently fail to give 
satisfaction. The brutes are cunning, and appear to 
understand whether the command is given by a master 
who knows his business and means that they shall 
attend to theirs, or by one who is not certain he is 
correct in his order or indifferent as to its being obeyed. 
In cases where a sportsman breaks his own dogs, he 
wins from them an attachment which I doubt if he ever 
gains in any other way. I think it is an undeniable fact 
that a dog ever afterwards likes best to hunt the birds 
he is broken on, and upon the same principle his affec- 
tion goes forth to the person who initiates him into the 
pleasures of the field. The reason may be found in the 
fact that a dog has but limited intelligence, and is such 
an impressionable creature, that first lessons, first sym- 
pathies and first love are never entirely eradicated, but 
remain centered round the memory of the original 
prompter. It is a fact appreciated by sportsmen that 
no two men work and handle dogs exactly alike, so that, 
though the same words of command may be used, the 
dog hunts differently for different men. It may be said 
that it requires but a short time to change a dog's 
attachment, and that he soon transfers his regard from 
an old to a new master. This is undoubtedly the case 
upon most points, but my experience has taught me 
that in a great majority of cases a dog will hunt better 
for the man who breaks him than for any subsequent 
master, and I have seen this carried to so great an ex- 



J 28 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

tent that in more than one case I have had dogs (which 
I have sold to friends) leave their masters and hunt for 
me whenever we happened to be In company. So, too, 
one of the first good dogs I ever owned, a fine red setter, 
bought from a shooting ' friend, though she always 
hunted well for me when alone or in the company of 
others than her former master, as soon as she saw him 
near her in the bush she would leave me and work for 
him in spite of command or punishment. I am fully sat- 
isfied that there is an impression made upon the animal 
by the first person who hunts him, which he seldom if 
ever forgets, even if all other ties are severed, and I 
claim this as a reason why each man should do his own 
breaking. 

There Is also another benefit derived from this : it 
lies in the fact that the sportsman advances in knowl- 
edge, as his dog progresses in his instruction. In order 
to break well, a man must study his dog that he may apply 
the incentives of reward or punishment in just the degree 
to produce the desired result. By this study of the 
animal, the sportsman really educates himself, and con- 
sequently finds that after breaking one dog he has 
comparatively little trouble with those he undertakes 
later; and thus becomes independent of professional 
assistance while at the same time he enjoys a rare pleas- 
ure, for next to watching the development of the human 
mind, there Is no more fascinating pursuit than teaching 
a high-couraged intelligent dog. Only those .who have 
experienced it can appreciate the pleasure of seeing the 
faculties unfold under instruction while the affectionate 
instincts prompt the pupil to do his best and to delight 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 29 



In the approval of his teacher. 

This may be a very good theory, some of my readers 
will say, but we who are business men have no time for 
dog-breaking, even if we had the experience. This 
seems at first sight an insurmountable obstacle, but it 
vanishes before a single earnest trial, and the result is so 
satisfactory that the man never regrets the slight labor 
necessary to convert an intelligent young dog into an 
agreeable and useful companion in every-day life, and a 
first-class worker when in the field. 

Two-thirds of the trouble in breaking lies in antici- 
pation, that is, in the lack of confidence, on the part of 
those who have never undertaken this. In the first place 
it does not require any great sacrifice of time to give the 
dog all needful instruction out of field. A well bred, 
intelligent dog will learn in a very few lessons the rudi- 
ments of sporting education, namely, charging, stopping 
at the word, retrieving, quartering, and following at 
heel. The great point to be observed is frequency, not 
duration of the lesson, and a half-hour twice a day is 
better that two hours at a time. 

So much for the time necessary, and in regard to the 
experience, I beg to assure my readers that this is very 
easily acquired. 

I have known of many dogs broken by men who 
never before attempted it, that were under good control, 
and as reliable workers as any gentleman need desire. 
I do not pretend that all men can break equally well, 
but neither are all equally proficient in other matters. 
All can break zvell if they will give their attention to it, 
and exercise the same common sense they would bring 



i^.o 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



to bear upon other undertakings. 

I propose now to give brief yet ample directions, by 
following which any man can break a dog provided he 
will keep ever in mind the watchwords : observation, 
patience, and perseverance. It is many years since I 
took my initiatory lessons, from one whom I have never 
yet seen surpassed in his control over dogs, and found 
that the secret of his success lay in his rare control over 
himself. Every year since then has impressed upon me 
two facts, first, that without self-control no man can ever 
break a dog well ; and again, that no set of rules, no 
matter how carefully they may be arranged, will apply to 
all dogs, owing to the difference in dispositions. It is 
the power of comprehending and adapting himself to 
different natures that makes one man a much better 
breaker than another ; therefore the first point is to study 
and thoroughly understand the pupil as he changes and 
develops under breaking. 

Though the same rules will not apply to all cases, 
the same order of instruction may be observed, and I 
believe that which I shall now offer the best for practical 
use. Undeniably it is easier to break an intelligent pup 
than it is to break an old dog with confirmed will 
and habits, but even this may be accomplished if the 
instructor is gifted with perfect patience, and will 
adapt himself to the character of his dog. In nature, 
the animal is like a child, possessed of a certain degree 
of reasoning power, and as readily recognizing a friend 
and master. Some dogs need to be encouraged, and a 
blow will awaken either fear or a determined obstinacy, 
which will require long effort to overcome. Others 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 13 I 

need severity, and here the sharpest is the most merciful 
because less liable to need repetition. 

Breaking is properly divided into yard and field, the 
former being preparatory to the latter. It is only pre- 
paratory, however, because no matter how well a dog 
will mind in the absence of game, as soon as he begins 
to take an interest in scent, he will develop an excitement 
under which he will be comparatively uncontrolable ; if, 
however, he has been well yard broken, field control 
will be easily obtained and be permanent. The import- 
ance of thoroughness in this preliminary breaking 
cannot, therefore, be overestimated. 

In my opinion, six months of age is the earliest at 
which education should begin, and then with only a 
well developed high cotLraged puppy, because in all cases 
some correction will be necessary, and if any timidity of 
disposition is present, correction will tend to make this 
permanent. Development I consider essential, because 
the physical and mental attributes, as a rule, keep pace 
together, and a puppy that lacks physical development 
will be very apt to be equally backward in comprehending 
instruction. 

The extreme point to which I would carry a puppy's 
breaking before this age, is teaching him to come when 
called. It is inconvenient and provoking to be obliged 
to catch a puppy when he is wanted, and it is therefore 
well enough to teach him to obey thus far. Even this 
is open to the objection that it must be taught by coax- 
ing, as force applied thus early will be very apt to induce 
fear. While I believe thoroughly in rewards when earned, 
I am firmly convinced that force breaking is the only 



I ^2 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



correct system. Sensationalists have repeatedly written 
of the beauty of seeing a dog take pleasure in obeying 
his master ; of the cruelty oi forcing him, etc.; such men 
simply fail to comprehend the true meaning of the term 
"force." It does not mean undue severity, and certainly 
not cruelty ; it does not mean a suppression of the affec- 
tionate instincts of the pupil, but it simply means teaching 
him to do what he is ordered because he is ordered, and 
not because it suits him to do it. It Is only making the 
brute recognize the superiority of man, and his conse- 
quent right to command. Force applied with reason 
worthy of a man, controls yet does not inspire fear, (I 
mean, of course, with dogs which have passed the natural 
timidity of early puppyhood) and the control thus gained 
is permanent because absolute. It teaches the dog that 
he mtist obey whether inclined to do so or not, while 
the rewards conferred after obedience, quicken and 
develop that pleasure in serving which the anti-force 
men lay such stress upon. Aside from the practical ben- 
efits of force breaking, I honestly believe there Is more 
sympathy and a closer connection between man and a 
dog thus broken, than exists in any Instance under oppo- 
site systems. The dog that has never been taught to 
recognize a master, stands upon a footing of qtiasi- 
equality which is not the natural condition of man and 
brute. He recognizes his Independence the moment 
any uncongenial service is demanded, and refuses obe- 
dience ; If corrected for disobedience his temper is roused 
and he resists vigorously ; if he conquers he is ever after 
comparatively worthless because he has learned that he 
has only to resist to win, while on the other hand he can 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 



only be conquered by resort to the very force denounced, 
and application of this in a degree, far in excess of that 
needed in the first instance, and possibly productive of 
the worst results. It is folly for the apostles of the 
kindness system to say that a dog thus broken will always 
obey. I myself have seen many instances of rank diso- 
bedience and so have others ; it is folly, too, to expect 
that a man will submit to disobedience by which his 
sport or the results of his skill as a shot are lost, and as 
long as such disobedience exists, and the natural passions 
of mankind prevail, this system may, at any time, and 
often does produce more severity and the ruin of more 
dogs, than any force could achieve. A force broken 
dog takes pleasure in obeying a recognized superior, 
and that superior feels a confidence in control which be- 
gets security and enhances the pleasures of the field. 
There is very seldom any clash of will, and if such 
comes it is overcome before passions are roused that 
would lead to serious rupture of existing relations, and 
thus man and dog maintain a condition of reciprocal 
services and rewards of the pleasantest possible char- 
acter. I am painting no highly colored picture, but only 
expressing the results of my own experience and that of 
others, which may become the experience of all who will 
test the force system in a manly, reasonable and thorough 
manner. 

It is very important that there be nothing to attract 
the dog's attention during a lesson : for this reason the 
breaker should always be alone, and the first lessons 
given in a small yard or room from which escape is 
impossible, as many dogs try to run away, and if sue- 



134 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



cessful, cause a great deal of trouble by repeating the 
attempt whenever they know they are to be corrected. 

To nothing is the oldinjunction " make haste slowly " 
more applicable than to breaking. Some dogs will, of 
course, learn more quickly than others, but with all, each 
lesson must be deeply impressed before a new one is 
begun, and all must be kept in mind by frequent re- 
hearsals. It is hard for an inexperienced breaker to go 
slow enough, and consequently he meets with as much 
difficulty through his dog getting mixed up and confused 
as he does teaching him what is wanted in the first 
instance. 

Before regular instruction is begun, the puppy should 
be thoroughly chain broken, as this will save all fear of 
the check cord when it is needed later, and will also 
teach him to bear confinement. To this end a secure 
collar should be put on the youngster, and he be chained 
to the side of a close fence or buildinof where he cannot 
wind himself up, and then left to fight the chain till he 
tires himself out and gives up. No matter how hard he 
struggles, or even if he bites the chain till the blood 
runs from his mouth, he should be left entirely alone 
till he gives up completely, then his master should ap- 
proach and with a few soothing words and caresses, 
release him. If his master goes to him before he has 
given up he will be apt to associate him with the pun- 
ishment of the chain, and thus will be afraid when he 
comes to be led. For this reason he should never be 
dragged to the place where he is fastened, or in fact 
have any warning of what awaits him there. The next 
day he should be chained again, and so on till he submits 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 



135 



quietly and perfectly to restraint ; then the master should 
take the chain in hand and teach him to lead, avoiding- 
all roughness but showing him he must follow. Lugging 
or pulling on the chain should be corrected now, and 
thus the uncomfortable as well as undignified spectacle 
so often witnessed, of a man pulled along at the heels 
of a half-choked dog be avoided in the future. Not 
more than one quarter of our dogs are properly chain 
broken, as any one will discover who will watch the dogs 
going out for exercise at a show, and giving exhibitions 
of pulling power, which would render them invaluable 
to a Kamtchatka sledge driver. 

When chain broken, he should be taught to come to 
call, provided he has not already learned this. To teach 
this, take the dog into a yard and attach a light cord 
to his collar, then allow him to play about a few moments 
that he may forget he is under constraint. Next, take 
the cord in hand, give it a slight twitch with the com- 
mand, "come in." If he does not obey, twitch him more 
sharply, and even pull him in hand over hand, repeating 
the command as he comes. When he reaches you, give 
him a few encouraging words, then take hold of the 
cord, give the command with a slight pull, and at the 
same time step backwards a few steps, making him follow 
and come up facing you. Teach him to come always 
in front, and he will do it when retrieving, and thus 
avoid the awkwardness of wheeling: in behind or coming- 
to the side, as some dogs do. Be sure to teach the come, 
in the most thorough manner, letting him know that he 
must obey, for if there is any doubt in his mind upon 
this point, he will be very apt to refuse or run away 



136 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



when you have occasion to punish him later. This 
lesson is the first step in the direction of force, and the 
more absolutely it is taught the less will be the dog's 
resistance in subsequent lessons. 

When tlie dog obeys the verbal command, substitute 
the whistle, using the cord with it at first and working 
him till he obeys the whistle as readily as the voice, It 
is well to have a special signal for come in, like tzvo quick 
blasts, because when at field work, you want to attract 
your dog's attention so as to send him in any direction, 
a single blast will do this, but some dogs if taught to 
come in at this signal will gallop heedlessly in, thinking 
that is what you want, and ignoring your efforts to wave 
them off. You will find that with practice the dog will 
understand whistle signals as readily as words or the 
hand, in fact I have seen dogs so broken that no form 
of command but whistle blasts was used under any 
circumstances. 

The second lesson is following to heel. Take the 
doo- up short on the cord, which should be held behind 
the back, and in the other hand a light twig. Step off 
with the command " to heel," holding the dog back as 
well as possible, and tapping him on the nose whenever 
he attempts to pass, at the same time repeating the 
command. Teach him to follow close and promptly, 
not stopping to play by the way, or you will have to 
keep watch for him, while on the contrary, it is his duty 
to keep watch for you. When well grounded in this, 
substitute a backward wave of the hand in place of 
words. 

Lesson third is stopping at command. Take the 




7^ ^'} 



I 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 37 

dog short by the cord, but so that he can run by your 
side. Walk off then say "to ho," stop and check him 
at once by the cord, repressing by it, and by the word 
any attempt to move. Wait a few seconds, then say 
"go on," advance with him and shortly repeat the pro- 
cess. Work him in this way till he will stop and advance 
promptly by your side, then throw a bit of bread a little 
way off, say " go on," and let him eat it. Presently 
check him as he advances to the bread, and if — as he 
probably will — he turns back to you, advance to him, 
turn him in the right direction, and make him stop there. 
Work him at feeding time and upon every favorable 
occasion, increasing the length of the stop, movino- 
about him and finally confirming him so thoroughly that 
you can go away and leave him. When you first go 
out of his sight, however, let it be some place where you 
can keep your eye on him, and check him promptly by 
the word, if he attempts to move. If he leaves his place, 
take him by the collar give him a slight shake with the 
question, "what sir?" drag him back a little roughly — 
but not sufficiently so to frighten him — and when you 
have got him to his place, check him sharply by the col- 
lar two or three times, repeating the command, then 
leave him there and when you want him call him by 
whistle. Whenever the dog performs well, reward him 
by an encouraging word and pat, and you will soon find 
he will try very hard to win this from you. 

The hand signal I use for the stop, is the raised hand. 
I am aware this is generally used as a command to drop, 
but I think it is more appropriate here. Men who teach 
their dogs to drop to shot and wing, use the stop but 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



little if any, but I deem it far the more useful and im- 
portant of the two, because it can not only be substituted 
for the drop, but is also applicable to many other cir- 
cumstances where the drop would be of no use. A dog 
can be taught to stop to wing and shot, thus subserving 
every purpose of the drop, and by field trial rules in this 
country, one is rated as high as the other. In spring 
snipe shooting, when the water is cold, it is simply extra 
exposure to compel a dog to drop into it, and for other 
shooting, now that breach loaders are almost universally 
used, men load so quickly that a dog is no sooner down 
than he is ordered to rise and move on. In the old 
days of muzzle loaders the drop allowed a little chance 
for rest, but this can no longer be urged under present 
circumstances. The additional advantages of the stop 
are, that by it, staunchness can be confirmed, backing 
taught, chasing and shot breaking cured, and general 
control obtained. It very often happens in ruffed grouse 
shooting when the birds are wild, that the dog strikes a 
trail in a thick bad place where a shot cannot be ob- 
tained, but if he can be stopped so that the gun can go 
round, and then the dog moved on to order, he will 
point the bird if it lies or give a shot if it flushes wild. 
I do not know of any one point of breaking that is so 
generally useful, and I would as soon have a dog refuse 
to mind at all as unbroken in this respect. 

In teaching to stop to hand, manage to catch the 
dog's eye, stop and raise the hand above the head with 
the palm to the front, at the same time giving the com- 
mand *'to ho," and dropping the hand after he has 
stopped. The command "go on," should be enforced 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 39 



by a forward wave of the hand, which will soon be un- 
derstood as a signal to advance without the order. 

The raised hand is more appropriate here than for 
the drop, because signals should be as far as possible 
explanatory, of the orders they convey; and the one I 
use for the drop does this, while the raised hand from 
its natural lack of expression serves only as a cautionary 
signal, which is explained by the breaker stopping as he 



o-ives it 



We next come to the charge or drop. To teach this, 
take the dog by your side and at the command " down" 
or drop — whichever you prefer — place your hand on his 
shoulders and push him down, placing him in comfort- 
able position with fore legs extended and head up. 
Hold him down a short time then say "up " and let him 
rise. Work him till he will drop readily and remain 
down while you walk away from him, step over him or 
do anything you please, then begin working him at a 
distance. It is probable that he will confound the drop 
and stop, if so, you must go to him and push him down, 
but not roughly as he is making a mistake, not disobey- 
ing. Do not attempt to combine practice in both drop 
and stop till the dog understands the drop perfectly. 
If you have done your duty in the previous lesson he 
knows the stop well, and though he will confuse the 
two at first, a little patience will show him the difference 
when the proper time comes. 

Many men teach their dogs to drop with their noses 
between their paws. I do not believe in this because it 
is only occasionally necessary, and at other times causes 
a needlessly constrained position. I use the drop very 



140 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

little in the field. If I have occasion to sit down or wish 
to go into a house, or for any similar purpose, the drop 
comes into play, but at such times it is more comfort- 
able for the dog to have his head free and does no harm. 
It occasionally happens, however, that the sportsman 
wishes to conceal his dog, as for example to get a shot 
at a flock of ducks, and it is therefore well to teach him 
to put his nose down at command. When, therefore, he 
charges well everywhere, drop him facing you, and at 
the command "close" push his nose down between his 
paws and hold it there till he gives up struggling. A 
few lessons of this kind will teach him what is wanted. 

The hand signal to drop should be given by raising 
the open hand as high as the face and bringing it down 
with an emphatic downward wave. For the close repeated 
waves of the hand this is expressive of the order, and hence 
I claim it is more appropriate than a sign which does not 
naturally express anything. So, too, for " up," there 
should be an upward toss of the hand, though for field work 
the forward wave to go on answers the double purpose. 

You are now supposed to have your dog well grounded 
in four lessons, viz : to come in, — to heel, — to ho, — and 
the drop. Take him out now for exercise frequently 
and work him on all of these. If he drops at "to ho " 
go to him and with one hand on his collar and the other 
under his belly raise him gently to his feet, repeating 
the command and emphasizing It by a slight slap upon 
the belly. Do not pull him up, or order him "up" as 
this will only confuse him still more and thus frustrate 
your correction. Avoid all roughness and he will dis- 
cover his error, while harshness will only lead him to 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I4I 

repeat it through crouching in fear. 

The next lesson is valuable only because it promotes 
better action in the succeeding one, yet had better be 
taught separately, as that lesson, retrieving, is sufficient 
in itself. You will now, therefore, teach the dog to sit 
up that when retrieving he may deliver into hand. It 
would seem sufficient for the purpose that the dog 
brings to you and holds the object till taken from him, 
but high couraged dogs are impatient to be at work, and 
if allowed to stand will often move round or hold the 
head so low that it is necessary to stoop to receive the 
bird. Sitting up, correctly taught, prevents the hrst and 
saves you from the discomfort of the latter. Take the 
dog, therefore, by one hand under the jaw so as to hold 
his nose well up, and passing the other arm round the 
hind legs above the hocks force him into a sitting posi- 
tion with the command "sit up." As soon as he will 
obey the command, practice him facing you and close 
enouo-h for him to lay his head against your knee, which 
will o"ive him the idea of always raising his nose. Pat 
and encourage him in this position, and he will soon come 
to creep as close to you as possible, thus making his 
reward the very means of teaching him what you want. 

We next come to retrieving, and this I emphatically 
say should be taught only hy force. I will not attempt 
to give the why and wherefore of this now, as I have 
already shown it generally in the opening of this chapter, 
but will confine myself to asking my readers to give the 
system I shall now disclose, a fair, honest trial, and I am 
convinced the results will satisfy the most sceptical bet- 
ter than any argument. 



142 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



During my connection with the sporting press, I 
have been repeatedly asked my method of teaching dogs 
to retrieve, but have always refused to answer this, be- 
cause the method I have used with unvarying success 
for the last ten years, was, when taught me, a secret 
known to but few and intended to be confined to these. 
I did not, therefore, give it in preparing the first edition 
of this book, but, as during this interval, the secret has 
leaked out, and though not generally known has become 
as one of its possessors wrote me, ''an open secret," I 
see no reason why it should be longer withheld from 
the public, as it will prove of great value to all who 
break dogs. I therefore fully explained the system a 
short time since through the columns of the American 
Field, from which I now reproduce it, changed only so 
far as to make it applicable to the present volume. 
"Many well-known professionals practice this method, 
and when once mastered, a man can, by its help, make 
any dog, young or old, of breeds used for retrieving or 
those which are most distantly removed from it, retrieve 
anything he has strength to bring, and do it without 
biting or injury of any kind. I have seen dogs, form- 
erly Ibiters of game, and which by punishment for this 
vice had discontinued retrieving altogether, made in two 
weeks' time tender-mouthed, prompt retrievers, and 
those who have attempted by ordinary practices to re- 
form such dogs, know well how difficult, if not hopeless, 
the task is. I have seen a bulldog and a greyhound 
thus taught to retrieve, and I firmly believe the dog 
does not live that cannot be thoroughly conquered by a 
man experienced in this method. I say experienced, 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I43 



because, though the matter is very simple, and by ob- 
serving the directions I shall presently give, a man can 
in his first trial make his dog a retriever, yet like every- 
thing else "practice makes perfect," and judgment in 
application, which comes from experience, is necessary 
in unusual cases, and is beneficial in all. 

One great beauty of this method lies in its adapt- 
ability to dogs of the most opposite dispositions; 
Whether timid or bold, the same process applies to all, 
only requiring judgment to grade the severity of treat- 
ment to the individual. It is essentially and absolutely 
a force system, and the dog which resists most is only 
more completely broken in the end. It conquers, yet it 
does not make cowardly or reluctant retrievers ; on the 
contrary, the dogs are as eager to retrieve as the best of 
those who have been coaxed and petted into bringing. 
I have tested it thoroughly, and there are many others 
who will endorse all I have said of the perfection and 
willingness of the retrievers broken in this way. 

Before I proceed to description, let me say one word 
of warning to those who may essay the practice. It is 
contained in the simple injunction : Keep your temper. 
I do not know of any point of breaking which requires 
more absolute command of the temper than this, because 
if a man becomes impatient or angry, he will be led into 
absolute cruelty to the dog, that will only frighten him 
into more obstinate resistance, entailing greater severity 
to conquer it, more time to effect the end, and propor- 
tional discomfort if not discoaragement to the man. I 
have known men lose their tempers in their first 
attempts, tire themselves completely out without succeed- 



144 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 



ing, and throw up the whole thing as a failure, yet later, 
when cooled by the advice of a friend, return to the 
method and succeed perfectly with the same pupils. 
Patience is also essential ; one must not be in too great 
a hurry, especially in first attempts; under such circum- 
stances to "make haste slowly" is to make it most surely 
in the end. Again, some dogs will require more time 
than others, according to the difference in their dispo- 
sitions. Since I have practiced this method, indeed, 
since I have got to know it thoroughly, I have been 
from one day to two weeks breaking a dog to retrieve, 
but from my first attempt to this time I have not met 
with a single failure, nor need any man do so." 

The dogs I like best to break by this method are 
those of one year and upwards, because they have by 
this time got wills of their own, and so when once con- 
quered, are conquered for good. Age, however, makes 
no difference, and I have used it with six months pups 
and with my Irish setter Rufus when five years old, with 
equal success. I have also broken with it, imported 
does, that had been broken abroad and of course never 
allowed to retrieve ; in fact, neither age nor the peculi- 
arities of individuals, constitute any obstacle to the 
successful working of this system with a man of experi- 
ence, though each person will find dogs he likes better 
to handle than others, and for the reason given, my 
choice is as above. 

" Proceeding now to explanation, I say : take the dog 
Into a small room where he cannot escape, the smaller 
the better, as he can run around a large one, and it is 
highly detrimental for him to even partially get away. 



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BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 



145 



Prepare a roll of woolen cloth about four inches long 
and an inch and a half through, well sewn along the 
edge where it is rolled, I consider this the best of all 
things, because it is easy for the dog to get hold of it, 
and at the same time, when tightly made, he cannot bite 
into it. With this in hand open the dog's mouth, put 
the roll in, with the command "pick it up," keeping the 
mouth shut for a few seconds. Repeat this several 
times, to give him an idea of the command and the 
action which he must perform at the command. Next 
take the roll in one hand, present It to the dog with the 
command, and as he does not notice it, catch him with 
the other hand by the nose and upper lip, twisting them 
upward and over with a sharp grip of the finger nails. 
This hurts him and causes him to cry out, then thrust 
the roll into his mouth, repeating the command, and 
shut his jaws together. He will probably now try to 
throw the roll out : if so, hold his jaws and keep saying, 
" Pick it up." The object in using this command only 
at this time is, that you desire to get into his mind the 
idea of taking the roll, not at present of holding it yet, 
you cannot let him throw it out, or he would constantly 
try to do so, thinking by this means to escape the pain 
you inflict. Now comes the tug of war, as the dog tries 
all means of escaping, even by attempting to bite. Never 
punish or even scold him for this, as it is only natural, 
but watch closely that he does not get hold of you, 
while you repeat the command, and twist quietly but 
determinedly. It is one of the most discouraging things 
for a dog to discover that his attempts to bite are un- 
successful, and treated with contempt. Keep your 



146 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 



temper, and perhaps for hours repeat the process, till, 
tired out and sore, the dog begins to yield, and soon 
opens his mouth far enough for a push to force the roll 
in. As soon as he yields thus far, reward him while he 
holds the roll, with an encouraging word and caress, and 
you will soon notice he begins to distinguish between 
obedience and refusal. Now if he attempts to throw out 
the roll, say " Hold," while you press his jaws together, 
as, having impressed the first idea upon him, he is now 
ready for a second. 

As soon as you reach this point stop, after seeing 
him really open his mouth two or three times, to make 
sure it is an intentional act, not an accident. By this 
time both the dog and yourself are well tired, and his 
nose and your hand sore enough for a rest to be accept- 
able. Make it a point never to stop short of obedience, 
even if it takes all day to gain it, because the first atempt 
has aroused the dog's resistance, and if you stop before 
you have conquered, he naturally thinks he has con- 
quered you, and consequently the next lesson, and 
possibly the next, will see no further advance, and the 
dog will be kept all the longer in pain ; but if, on the 
other hand, you force him to obey you, you can start 
the second lesson with this advantage, and so make 
rapid progress. 

The next day, take the dog to the same place, 
because the accustomed surroundings remind him bene- 
ficially of past experiences. Speak kindly to him, and 
caress him till you are on good terms, then present the 
roll with the usual command, if he does not, as he prob- 
ably will not, obey, repeat the command sharply, and 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 1 47 

upon second refusal apply the twist till he obeys 
promptly. Long before this the dog has crouched to 
the floor, so that the roll may be kept in the hand close 
to the floor, and as the dog gets to open his mouth the 
roll may be placed at his nose, and by a push of the 
finger sent into place ; very soon it may be put upon the 
floor, though it will still require to be pushed in, but 
still later the doe will reach for it himself. Never fail 
to reward each effort or yielding with encouragement, 
but never yield an inch yourself, and the dog will rec- 
ognize and appreciate this fully. 

When the pupil will pick up in front of him, place 
the roll a little on one side, then push his head round to 
it till you have shown him sufficiently what you want, 
and if he does not obey then give him the twist, working 
him in this manner till he will turn his head to either 
side at command. All this time of course you have 
impressed the "hold" upon him, and by now he will 
have learned to hold till you take the roll from him with 
the command " Give." A dog properly broken to these 
commands wall open and shut his teeth at the word as 
often as required." 

Very possibly as soon as the dog begins to pick up 
he will do it with a savage snap, and attempt to bite 
the roll, which gives you a chance to teach him to be 
tender-mouthed, by taking him by the under jaw, while 
he holds the roll, and forcing your thumb under it, 
pressing sharply against the jaw bones at their junction 
in front, with the command " Carefully." The dog never 
attempts to bite, and the pressure gives him to understand 
he must not shut his jaws too closely. If he does not 



148 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND • FIELD. 



attempt to bite the roll, still follow this plan later, as 
there is no present need of it. This gives a command 
of the dog, so that when he gets into the field, if he 
accidentally bites a wounded bird in catching it, (as the 
best dogs will sometimes do at first,) you can correct 
him in a way he will understand, yet not make him less 
ready or willing to retrieve, which the whip would do. 

When the dog picks up from the floor while crouched, 
get him up, walk him round, and while on his feet work 
him in the same way as before, never failing to punish 
refusal by the twist and to reward obedience by encour- 
agement. If the first part of the lesson has been well 
taught you will not meet with many refusals, though 
you may have to show him how to turn his head in the 
direction you hold the roll. Practice him till he will 
turn his head promptly, or raise or lower it to meet the 
hand, and finally drop the roll for him to pick up. To 
induce the latter you will probably have to stoop with 
him at first, and perhaps even have to help him a little 
in getting hold of it, but patience will be rewarded with 
success in all cases, but more or less speedy according 
to the intelligence and disposition of the individual. 

The next lesson is in bringing from a distance, and 
here force must be partially laid aside if a willing and 
efficient retriever is desired. It is true a dog can be 
forced to go in any direction he is sent, but no force can 
compel him to use his nose, and when it comes to finding 
a thing by scent, or to actual retrieving in the field, 
if he is not so broken that he takes pleasure in his 
work, he will cunningly refuse to find the object or bird. 
The greater pleasure the dog finds in retrieving, the 




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BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 1 49 

harder he will work at It, which makes all the difference 
between a good and bad finder, when birds fall into inac- 
cessable places or run away, winged. In this lesson, 
therefore, encouragement and example both come into 
play. So after letting him see you throw the roll a 
short distance where it can be plainly seen, say, come, 
and advance with him to it, then make him pick up and 
walk back to your place, watching him and restraining 
any disposition to drop it, by the command ''hold." 
When you reach your place make him sit up and deliver 
Into hand. Be careful to make him sit up always In 
delivering, and he will soon learn to do It without com- 
mand. When he will advance, seize an opportunity when 
he is facing you to throw the roll between you, then call 
him, and as he comes to It make him pick up and bring. 
If he goes by It, walk round It yourself at a short dis- 
tance but keeping It between you and work him till he 
obeys. Though you should reward every good perform- 
ance with pats and cheering words, you must not give 
the dog any Idea that he Is at play, therefore never run 
to an object or cheer the dog to It. Work quietly but 
firmly, and he will know you are commanding him even 
when you reward him. 

When the above Is well learned, throw the roll when 
the dog Is not looking, but so It will be in sight, call 
him to you and advancing a few steps only, wave your 
hand in the direction and start him by the command 
"find It." This is a general command but It Is better 
to use it at first, because In time an intelligent dog can, 
by proper choice of orders, be taught to distinguish 
between objects named ; the term bird or the order 



150 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

"seek dead," should therefore never be used except 
when a bird is to be found, and it is also better not to 
use any special order at first for simplicity's sake. It 
will often happen, too, that after the dog has been 
taught to know and bring only the objects named, he 
may be wanted to find something the name of which he 
does not know, and here the general order "find it" is 
needed. It is, so to speak, the skeleton of all orders, 
and once learned, changes upon it can be made when 
required in more advanced education. 

In early practice in seeking, the roll should be thrown 
where the dog will see it, because he as yet knows 
nothing of hunting for it, and if forced to this will soon 
become discouraged. If he fails to find or manifests 
any disinclination to seek, go to him, pet him a bit, then 
give him the command and advance yourself, stooping 
and swinging your hand over the ground as if looking 
for something, repeating the command from time to 
time, and working up to the roll, which you will 
then make him carry to the place whence you started. 
This example will soon set him to hunting, and after he 
finds the roll readily when in sight, throw it where he can- 
not see it, but not too far. As he has now to find by 
scent, it is necessary that scent be imparted to the roll, 
and sufficient for most dogs can be given by carrying 
it in the pocket between lessons and holding it in the 
hand a few moments before use. Some dogs are, how- 
ever, either indifferent or timid in seeking, and for such 
a stronger scent is required, which may be imparted by 
rubbing* the roll lightly with a piece of suet. 

Work the dog frequently in seeking. This is 77wst 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 



151 



important, as upon the present practice depends his per- 
sistence in seeking jn actual retrieving, which will save 
the loss of many a skulking bird. Throw the roll 
therefore, into all sorts of places, and eventually place 
it on elevated objects or in the crotch of a tree, so that 
the dog will learn to use his nose in seeking. Do not 
let him leave off without finding, even if you have to 
help him by encouragement and working him up to it. 
Avoid the latter, however, as much as possible, or he 
will learn to depend upon you rather than his nose. 

When he retrieves the roll well substitute other 
things for it, and give the twist if he refuses. He will 
yield more and more quickly with each new object, and 
finally will retrieve a bird as promptly as anything else, 
but a bird should be the last thing he is tried with. 
Some time since I saw in the Ainerica7t Field the query 
why field dogs will not retrieve birds of prey. I will 
say I have dogs in my kennel that will retrieve any bird 
of prey, and more than this, will bring a bat or a chimney 
swallow. Mr. G. A. Strong's pointer, Pete, also broken 
by this method, will bring a pin stuck into the ffoor, or 
any object or bird he can lift, and it is simply a matter 
of practice with dogs so broken to make them bring 
whatever they are ordered to. 

There are some dogs, however, which are really 
afraid of a bird ; with such, encouragement must be 
used, because though they can be forced to pick one up 
when found, this fear will induce them to blink or refuse 
to find in the field. A really timid dog should therefore 
be gradually accustomed to a bird, by tying a feather 
and later a wing to the roll. I have seen many dogs 



152 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



which have been as nearly as possible utterly spoiled by 
harshness in retrieving, made good retrievers by this 
system, and gradual approach by the wing. 

The more work a man gives his dog the better and 
more intelligent retriever he will have. He should, 
therefore, take him out for walks, and try. him in all 
ways, such as dropping a glove and showing him the 
other, saying "find my glove." A hat, a handkerchief, 
pocketbook, or any article may be dropped or hidden, 
and the dog taught to know all and find them by name. 
He may also be taught to go into the house and find 
and bring what he is sent for, and may thus be made 
very useful apart from his proper work in the field. 

Dogs may be divided into three classes in point of 
disposition, viz., the high couraged, the timid, and the 
obstinate or sulky ones. The first are the easiest to 
break and the last the most difficult, yet the system con- 
quers all equally, only needing different application. To 
illustrate, I will say a high couraged dog makes a strong 
fight when the twist is applied, because his disposition 
prompts him to resent injury. If the breaker loses his 
temper the struggle degenerates into one of mere brute 
force. Quick tempered men are apt to treat such dogs 
with imnecessary severity, even resorting to blows if the 
dogs attempt to bite, which they naturally will. A blow 
should never be given under any circumstances, because 
it cannot avail to make the dog pick up, and so inflicts 
useless pain that only distracts his attention from the 
lesson, and prolongs the contest. Dogs of this dis- 
position are the ones most frequently pronounced 
unbreakable by inexperienced men, yet as I have said, 



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BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 53 

they are really the easiest. With such I apply the twist, 
keeping a sharp lookout that the dog does not get hold 
of my hand — and as I shall show later this is not easy 
for him to do — and if he attempts to snap I say quietly 
but sternly, "Take care, sir," but am careful not to 
withdraw my hand ; a sudden withdrawal of the hand is 
of itself provocation to a dog to bite when roused, while 
the lack of fear displayed by the quiet word and contin- 
ued grasp overawe and subdue him. I have been bitten 
but twice in over twenty years and never once while 
applying this system, yet I have owned some dogs ready 
enough to use their teeth. High couraged dogs are the 
easiest to break because when they begin to give way 
they give up completely, if properly met. The moment 
I see the least disposition to open the mouth at the 
command "Pick it up," I reward with encouraging 
words and hand caresses freely given. The disposition 
of the dog here comes to my aid, for such dogs are 
naturally inclined to serve their masters and are prompt 
to acknowledge kindness, consequently he almost imme- 
diately surrenders, and ever after respects the force which 
has compelled without abusing him. Of all dogs these 
high couraged ones make the best and most willing 
retrievers 

Timid dogs require very careful handling or they 
become so frightened they cause great trouble to both 
the breaker and themselves. Timid dogs are of two 
kinds, those afraid of everything, and those with plenty 
of general courage, but cowed by the least harshness. 
To break a dog of either kind a man must have good 
judgment, in that he must temper severity with encour- 



154 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



agement from the first, yet In such proportion that his 
effort will in no wise degenerate into coaxing. In 
breaking a dog inclined to timidity, I allow some 
moments' interval between my attempts at forcing, and 
employ these in petting and making friends with him. 
I also divest my manner of all severity though I apply 
the twist as sharply as in other cases, thus making the 
force prominent just when it should be, and keeping it 
out of sight when encouragement is needed. 

A dog with the sulky disposition of a mule is the 
hardest and least satisfactory of all pupils, because even 
when conquered he never takes pleasure in serving but 
does everything as it were under protest. I have owned 
but few such brutes and those not for any length of 
time. I have never met with one in the Llewellin set- 
ters nor do I expect to, so that mention of such might 
be omitted here but for the fact that I wish to show 
this system applies to all dispositions. A sulky dog 
deserves no mercy. I do not mean by this, the breaker 
should be cruel, for that is degrading to the man, but I 
do mean that force, pure and simple, sensibly applied, 
is the only argument such brutes will comprehend or 
yield to, therefore the twist should be given as severely 
as possible till the brute howls for mercy and submits 
absolutely. There is always a cur nature in such dogs, 
and they are as insensible to kindness as they are lack- 
ing in noble attributes. Breakers who have not had 
experience with this system must be careful not to 
confound dispositions, mistaking fair resistance or fear 
for sulks. A sulky dog generally betrays himself in 
other ways than this ; he is seldom affectionate, meeting 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 55 



his master with indifference rather than with frankness 
and evident pleasure. This is not however always the 
case and such dogs are sometimes all right till the casus 
belli is given, when their true character appears. No 
rule for detection can be laid down, and all I can add is, 
watch carefully and do not form hasty conclusions. 

And now let me say a few words on this system as 
compared with others. I claim it the best because it is 
the easiest of application, and because it will conquer any 
dog, no matter what his disposition, without permanently 
cowing him as so many other force systems do. In the 
course of my long experience I have seen fully a dozen 
different force systems thoroughly tested, and have 
never met with any but this that did not sometimes 
fail, and also turn out more or less frequently sneaking, 
cowardly retrievers ; dogs that took no pleasure in their 
work, but performed it with a backward glance of the 
eye as if expecting to be half killed, showing that they 
had experienced nothing but severity. Some years 
since I thought the spike collar a sure force, and 
stated this publicly. I did this because as I could not 
then give the system I practiced to the public, I con- 
sidered the spike the next best available. I regret my 
mistake, which I based almost entirely upon the repre- 
sentations of spike advocates. If I had not been using the 
same system I now use I should have quickly discovered 
the failure of the spike, and thus saved myself the morti- 
fication of this retraction ; as it is I can only say frankly 
I was wrong. I feel I am not wrong now, as I have 
tested my present system every year of the last ten, and 
have compared notes with others who use it. I saw a 



156 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 



practitioner of the spike force fail utterly with two dogs. 
One worked round and round him as a pivot, the other 
hung back on the collar and refused to open his mouth 
till choked so he had to gasp for breath, and this he 
repeated till the breaker gave him up in despair after a 
three weeks' trial ; both these dogs were subsequently 
broken in less than a week by my system. I could 
name many other instances of failure, but will not occupy 
time in doing so, but will simply say, while the collar 
and cord have their legitimate uses, forcing to retrieve 
is not one of them, nor will they succeed in this except 
with dogs that yield to a very little coercion. 

Pulling a dog's ears will make him open his mouth 
to cry out, and so will twisting his tail or paw, or thrash- 
ing him, all of which I have seen tried, sometimes 
succeeding, but more frequently failing. All of these, like 
the spike collar, are inoperative for one reason if for no 
other, viz ; That by none of these methods does the 
breaker have control of the dog's head so as to direct 
his motions. If a dog is hurt in any particular part of 
his body, his natural Impulse is to turn toward that 
part and bite the assailant. With the spike collar the 
dog's head swings loosely, and allowing the pain forces 
him to open his mouth, he is more likely to do it with 
an effort to take a piece out of the breaker's leg than 
in a position that will permit of the roll being thrust in. 
So, too, pulling the ear prompts the dog to turn his 
head and snap, and in a majority of cases he will do 
this in a way that renders it impossible to give him the 
roll. There are dogs with the disposition of babies 
that will make no fight, but will simply cry out at the 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I57 

least hurt. Such dogs can be broken by spike or ear, 
but I have seen others that would soon teach the breaker 
to let them alone, or would persistently resist. I have 
seen them do it, so I speak from knowledge, not suppo- 
sition or hearsay. 

To return now to my force system, I think it easy 
to see it gives a command over the dog none of the 
other methods I have alluded to can. With his hand 
upon the dog's nose the breaker can prevent his turning 
his head away from the roll, and as both hands are so 
near together they are available for Instant service in 
case he attempts to bite. I never knew a breaker using 
any other system that was not frequently bitten, while I 
never knew one using this get hurt, unless Inexperienced 
or exceptionally careless. No great exertion of strength 
is necessary with this system, and It Is more easily 
applied than any other because the force is directed to 
the dog's mouth. This is patent to all. I cannot, 
perhaps, actually prove It will conquer all dogs while 
other systems will not, but I can say from personal 
experience and that of others, I do not believe the dog 
lives that can resist It. Of course other equally effectual 
methods may exist, but I know that none of those I 
have mentioned are so, because I have seen them fail 
and the same dogs subsequently broken by this. I 
therefore offer It to my readers confident that if fairly 
and sensibly tested It will be found thoroughly and 
invariably satisfactory. 

In discussing this system advocates of the coaxing 
method have denounced it as cruel. I wish, therefore, 
to say a brief word here upon this point. 



158 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



I admit it costs the dog sharp pain, but I do not 
think it cruel because, while teaching him to retrieve, I 
get a control over him which lessens his resistance to 
other points of breaking. I do not know of anything 
in the instruction of a field dog which has so general and 
widespread influence upon him as this, and when we con- 
sider the correction usually necessary in breaking, I am 
confident any doubter will upon trial be convinced that the 
atrareeate is lessened by the experience the dog gets 
in this single particular. Then too, the command gamed 
here lasts all through life, thus reducing the chances of 
occasional rebellion which calls for punishment. 

I admit, what any man will find who tries this method 
that it cows a dog at first, but I claim, and can show it, 
as can others who use this plan, that dogs so broken 
are as cheerful, willing, and happy in retrieving as any 
dogs can be. I can show dogs thus broken that bring 
their birds at a gallop, with heads up, and sterns waving, 
as proud of the act as any dogs that can be produced ; 
yet be it remembered those same dogs will not cause 
the loss of a fine specimen by refusing to retrieve it, be 

it what it may. 

One thing more. Let me urge my readers not to 
attempt this breaking of their dogs in odds and ends of 
time, because when the dog's resistance is roused it takes 
patience and time to overcome it, and if it is not over- 
come, but on the contrary the dog left while his temper 
is up, he naturally thinks he has gained his way, and 
will resist next time as strongly as ever. A dog can be 
broken in this way, but it takes far longer, causes him 
more pain, is more apt to cow him, and costs the breaker 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 59 

more labor. The first dog I broke by this system I 
spent six weeks on in periods of a few moments a day. 
The poor brute had a hard time of it ; my patience was 
almost exhausted, and I came near being prosecuted for 
cruelty to animals. Now I conquer a dog in one lesson 
if he is not inclined to be timid. I always commence 
the lesson early in the morning, so that if need be I can 
give the whole day to it, and before I leave off I have 
won so far that the dog opens his mouth and makes an 
effort to seize the roll when ordered to pick it up. This 
is all a man should expect to do in one lesson, and he 
must be prepared for some resistance at the next trial, 
but if the first attempt has been carried far enough to 
compel submission, the later resistance will be a mere 
show quickly abandoned if promptly met. Let the les- 
son then be given in a systematic manner, in a place 
where the dog cannot escape, and with plenty of time at 
command. Let the breaker remember he is a man, not a 
passionate brute, that he is the superior of his pupil, 
and that he can make that superiority felt most quickly 
by maintaining an unruffled temper united to a steadfast 
persistence. With these and good common sense 
judgment, the dog does not live that can say no to him. 
Since I gave this system to the public, I have been 
accused of inconsistency, and bitterly denounced by those 
pecuniarily interested in spike collars, and by personal 
enemies. From the former this might be expected, but 
the latter, though some of them have successfully prac- 
ticed the system, have been influenced by purely personal 
feeling to condemn it for the purpose of belittleing me 
To my readers, I say in reply to these assaults, I have 



l6o AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



been a writer upon matters pertaining to the field from 
the first issues of the American Sportsman. No man 
has been more constantly before the public, and my 
articles will show whether or no I have honestly striven 
for the best interests of sportmanship at large, or for the 
advancement of personal ends. I have always tried to 
write consistently, but in the kindly attempt to aid those 
interested in the sale of spike collars, and others who 
as professional breakers used them, I, at a time when I 
could not give the system I used, made use of expressions 
which the very men I helped at their own solicitation, 
now quote against me. Even in what I wrote then and 
what I have written since, I claim that the declared 
inconsistency does not exist if my assertions are judged 
as I have a right to expect them to be, by the light of 
the explanation I have offered. To offset these attacks 
and denunciations I have the evidence of over an hundred 
sportsman in all parts of the country who have broken 
their dogs to be thorough retrievers by this system since 
I exposed it. It would have been far more satisfactory 
to me if these acknowledgments had been made public- 
ly, not so much for the vindication of myself they would 
have afforded, as because they would have proved the 
system all I claim it to be, and thus would have won for 
it the confidence it deserves. Many gentlemen have, 
however, shrunk from taking part in the controversy, 
and to this is due the difference in numbers between 
those who have put their evidence on record and those 
who have written me privately. I have nothing to gain 
by giving this system to the public. If all the dogs in 
the country should hereafter be broken by it, it would 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. l6l 

not put one dollar into my pocket. I gain nothing in 
reputation by this exposure, since I have from the first 
declared I am in no way the originator of the system. 
I have a right to expect my readers will bear this in 
mind, and that it will have its proper influence upon 
their judgment of myself and the men who have tried 
to write me down. I do not ask that this system be 
accepted upon my evidence of its infallibility, but I do 
ask in the interests of those for whose benefit I exposed 
it, that it be given a fair trial and sustained or overthrown 
by what that trial shows its merits to be, and further, 
that those who try it will, at least privately, give their 
experience to their friends. 

Retrieving from water is a specialty for which with 
some dogs preliminary work is required. It can never 
be taught while the least fear of water remain, and the 
first thing, therefore, is to make the dog a good swimmer; 
generally the quickest way to do this, is by associating 
him with one that is fond of the water, but if this cannot 
be brought about or the example fails, other means 
must be resorted to. In such cases by no means throw 
the dog in. No greater folly is ever perpetrated, as it 
will not at best effect the desired result, and many have 
been made permanently timid by such treatment. Take 
the dog to a stream deep enough to compel him to swim, 
and cross over yourself leaving him behind, then call 
him and urge him to follow. If he will not cross walk 
away as if leaving him, turning occasionally to call and 
urge him to come. Very few will resist this and with a 
little persistance the dog will learn to swim well, then 
practice him with bits of chips, and finally a bird. 



l62 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



Accustom him to cross a stream at command, either to 
hunt upon the further side or retrieve from it. Throw 
a bird into reeds where he cannot see it — but let it be 
where you can reach it — then make him look it up and 
bring ; birds often fall in such places, and are lost if the 
dog does not understand hunting for them or is easily 
discouraged. Water spaniels are, of course, at home in 
the water, and only need to be taught to retrieve on 
land to do it equally well from the water. Nearly all 
setters also retain enough of their spaniel character to 
make good water dogs with practice, but pointers require 
more handling and patience. 

To teach a dog to quarter systematically, that is, so 
that all the ground is covered, is with most a difficult 
and slow operation. It must be taught in the field 
allowing the dog to range, then attracting his attention 
by the whistle, waving the hand in the direction oppo- 
site that he has gone, and turning yourself thus inducing 
him to follow diagonally across your path, making fresh 
turns at regular intervals and working him till he becomes 
confirmed in beating his ground right and left irrespect- 
ive of where you may be walking. With a brace of dogs 
both must be taught to quarter singly first, then when 
put together cast off one to the right the other to the 
left, so that when they turn inward their lines will cross 
in front of you. They must also be taught to work 
independently, that is, each one for himself, and not 
following each other, or time will be wasted by both 
hunting the same ground leaving other unworked. 

It is rank heresy in these days when field trial rules 
rate quartering so high, to say a word against it, yet I 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. i6^ 



candidly believe there are many places where it is a 
detriment rather than a benefit. To be reliable the doo- 
must quarter everywhere, or he will soon get to working 
according to his inclination, which is destructive to 
system. There are two places where systematic quarter- 
ing comes in play, viz : upon the prairies and the snipe 
bogs. In the former the extent of country permits it, 
and in the latter birds may lie anywhere. In quail 
shooting, the birds are found along the sides of stubbles 
and only seldom where the fields are small in the center, 
so that a dog by passing to leeward of a certain line 
can wind across the entire range where the birds will lie, 
and do this as thoroughly as if he quartered every inch, 
thus saving himself great exertion. A dog that is intel- 
ligent also learns by experience in the field the sort of 
places where birds will be found, and if left to himself 
will waste no time upon unlikely spots, but speed direct- 
ly to those where his search will probably be repaid, but 
if, on the other hand, he has been taught to quarter 
systematically, he goes back and forth over all the 
ground, good and bad, like a ship beating against a 
head wind, doing twice the work he need and of course 
tiring himself in proportion. I shot for three days a 
couple of years since with a friend who had a systematic 
quarterer, upon whose breaking he had spent many 
weeks and of which he was very proud. It was very 
pretty to look at, but my dog which did not quarter 
with the same regularity, was not as fast, had no better 
nose, found about two-thirds of all the birds, simply 
because in the absence of special command she followed 
the dictates of her experience, and though going over 



164 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



less ground than her companion, she hunted that, where 
she knew the birds would be. 

In ruffed grouse and woodcock shooting, birds are 
found in the edges of cover bordering upon streams or 
woodlands, in small thickets or in ravines, and here 
systematic quartering is in my opinion useless if possible. 
I have killed great numbers of these birds in different 
States, and on all styles of ground. I have shot over 
spaniels, setters and pointers, dogs that quartered and 
dogs that did not, and I am firmly convinced that the 
most killing; dog^ is the one whose instincts and intelll- 
gence are least trammeled by any system that prevents 
their free use in the way experience has taught him. 

This completes the lesson, taught outside of the 
field proper, and we have now to introduce the puppy to 
game. 

However well he may have been yard broken, you 
must now be prepared for more or less wildness and 
disobedience consequent upon a little hitherto unknown 
excitement ; be not therefore hasty, or prone to deem 
his mistakes deserving of punishment, but be cool, firm 
and reasonable in your action and expectations. It is 
not well to take the gun out at first, because you may 
want both hands free, and again you may be led to think 
more of filling your bag than of breaking the dog, 
leave it at home then till the puppy is fairly steady, and 
you will find yourself repaid in the end. 

Some writers advise takino- out an old doQ- to find 
for the puppy, but if birds are fairly plentiful I prefer 
leaving the old one at home and depending upon my 
own knowledge of places where to look to get the puppy 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 65 



on g-ame. Let him run about at pleasure, only restraining 
him so far that you can keep track of him, and as soon 
as you see evidences of the recent presence of game take 
him to them, and by stooping and appearing to search 
endeavor to get him to notice the scent. If he takes 
it up never mind if he is a bit eager at first, but talk to 
him soothingly so as to steady him if possible, but if he 
flushes and chases keep quiet, call him back as soon as 
you can, take him where the game rose, rate him a little 
with "careful sir" and to ho him on the scent. Do not 
keep him too long at to ho, as he knows the bird has 
gone, but work off to leeward of where you have marked 
it if able to do so, and try to so work him that he will 
get its scent, then check him all you can without harsh- 
ness and do your best to get him to point. Do not be 
discouraged by a few failures, and do not at first try any 
means of restraining him except words, but if you find 
him uncontrolable you must put a light check cord on 
him, and by its use make him go slower, cautioning him 
with the ''careful sir" enforced by a slight pull. Some 
men advise allowing the pup to chase freely, and this I 
do not object to before actual field breaking begins, or 
even then if the dog is inclined to be at all listless and 
indifferent to game, as it will excite his interest in the 
birds, but with the majority of dogs, chasing at this point 
of education does no good, and only begets a desire 
which must be controlled, thus causing extra trouble. 
If then the dog shows interest in the search but flushes 
and chases, give him a sharp "to ho" the instant he 
starts, and if he does not obey put the cord on him and 
enforce the to ho by twitches more or less sharp as 



1 66 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

demanded by his disposition and action. Here is where 
the value of the "to ho " is shown. The dog of course 
does not know he has done wrong in chasing, and if you 
attempt to correct this by rating him with the old time 
" ware chase" you have to teach him two lessons instead 
of one, viz : to understand the new command and to 
stop chasing, but knowing the "to ho," by enforcing it 
you punish him for disobedience to something he already 
knows, and as soon as you get him to acknowledge his 
past teaching the chasing is corrected. 

If he is heedless and rash in working up the trail, 
"to ho" him as soon as you see he has it, and as often 
as needed as he follows it out. After stopping rate him, 
but not too sharply, with "careful sir," then give him 
quietly the order to go on, and by your own manner and 
frequent checks endeavor to make him cautious. 

When he shows disposition to point, give him the 
" to ho " in a low impressive voice, but be careful as possi- 
ble to avoid pointing before he gets to the bird, as if he 
has to move on eventually he will, unless he is naturally 
extremely cautious, be apt to take up the habits of going 
In from j)oInt, When you see him come to point, 
remember that you have now the opportunity to impress 
that staunchness upon which his future value in the 
field depends, so keep him standing by the "to ho" as 
long as you can without tiring him, then flush the bird 
yourself, but if you have to advance before the dog to 
do this be careful that he does not break point and follow 
you. Use the "to ho" to stop him if he attempts this, 
and so make him keep his place till the bird is up and 
you return to him. If possible flush the bird by throw- 



BREAKING YOUXG AND OLD DOGS. I 6? 



ino; in a clod or similar object, because though the crash 
will be apt to excite the dog to dash in, you being 
by his side can control him more readily than if in 
advance. 

Having got him to point and corrected chasing, work 
him till he is reliable in these respects. If you have 
been Vv'orking in the open, take him into cover and teach 
him to go slow there with limited range at the command 
•'steady." This can be done by use of the check cord 
which may be trailed when you are not obliged to keep 
it in hand. Teach him to obey the hand and whistle 
promptly and to go wherever he is sent by the hand- 
He may be disinclined to go into a thicket at first, if so 
do not try to force him but go in yourself making him 
follow if he will not advance. Example is very powerful 
with dogs, and a few lessons of this kind will cure him 
of his fear of the bush more effectually than any com- 
pulsion. Do not be in a hurry to finish with him, but 
advance by slow stages teaching carefully and thoroughly 
what you go over, and you will make better progress 
and have a more perfect dog in the end than you can 
by hasty work. 

When satisfied that you can gain nothing more by 
the above, take out the gun when you next go afield. 
I am, of course, supposing that the dog is not in the 
least shy, for if he is so this must be cured before he is 
shot over for game. With even a high couraged dog do 
not make too much noise at first ; a single shot at a 
time is enough, as many dogs have been frightened by 
a sudden fusilade. 

When the dog points try and kill the bird for him. 



i68 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



If it falls in sight and especially if it is tumbling about 
keep your eye on the dog to prevent his breaking shot 
to retrieve. Wait till the bird is perfectly dead then 
work him up to it and make him retrieve it. Be very 
careful in this for unless you have accustomed him to a 
freshly killed bird, the strong scent and the blood may 
frighten him or induce him to bite it ; it is therefore 
best to take it from him at once, and wait till he is more 
accustomed to such before letting him carry it. Never 
send a young dog to retrieve a winged bird, or one that 
is full of life, as the former will very likely induce him 
to break shot or chase, and the struggle of catching 
either will be apt to make him bite. It is far better to 
give the bird a second barrel, or even to let it go than 
run the risk of teaching the dog bad habits. 

As the dog gets more eager to retrieve he will be 
more apt than ever to break shot, so be on the lookout 
for this and check it promptly by the " to ho" or cord 
if the word does not suffice. 

Work the dog in keeping his place at charge or stop 
while you go away, even out of his sight and fire the 
gun. It often happens that you can get shots at ducks 
by crawling up to them, and a possible second chance 
may be lost by the dog rushing up from the place where 
you have left him. 

Lastly you must teach him to back another dog's 
point. Take out now a steady old dog that you need not 
pay attention to, and as soon as he comes to point bring 
the pup up so that he can see him, but not near enough 
to get the scent, as you do not want the pup to point 
but to back. Stop him with the "to ho " as soon as 



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BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 69 

you are certain he sees his companion, and keep him 
standing till the bird is flushed and killed. It is well to 
have a friend with you at first to do the shooting, so 
that you can remain by the pup, but if this cannot be 
done, you must keep your eye on him to see that he 
does not follow you as you advance, or break shot when 
you shoot. Even if steady when alone he will be apt 
to forget himself now, so be ready with the "to ho" if 
it is needed, and if he moves go back to him and lead 
him back to his place where to ho him with a slight 
shake. 

I prefer taking the pup out alone till ready for the 
backing lesson, because he will be apt either to show 
jealousy inducing him to rush up to the point, and thus 
making more trouble in backing, or he will simply follow 
the old dog about and depend upon him to find. 
Taught as above he will have learned to hunt for himself 
before he is brought into company, and will be under 
control, when subjected to the new excitement, so that 
whatever mistakes this may induce will be more easily 
corrected. 

In the above directions I have made no mention of 
the zvhip. This is not because I do not believe in it at 
all, but because I think its use is too frequently resorted 
to ; and that bad enough as this is in any case, it is 
especially so with a young dog. This is just the mis- 
take (and it is a great one) which many breakers make, 
especially if they are amateurs of but little experience. 
They seem to think that the only way to get an idea 
into a dog's mind is to whip it in, just as the old time 
pedagogues considered the birch the best mental stimulant 



I70 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



on the royal road to knowledge. Years ago I was no 
wiser than the rest ; but fortunately both for myself 
and my dogs I soon learned that the whip was my worst 
enemy. While I used it I never had a well broken dog, 
and, more than this, I can say that I have never seen 
one thus broken which was not either cowed in spirit, 
or made a sulky, negligent worker. The great secret 
of perfect breaking is to teach the dog that you are his 
master, and at the same time to so stimulate both his 
love for sport and his love for yourself that whether in 
or out of the field he is constantly studying your wants, 
and finding his greatest pleasure in ministering to them. 
A breaker need never expect to bring out a dog's full 
capacity for good work if, instead of awakening his 
sympathy, he unreasonably and unmercifully thrashes 
him for every trivial fault, upon the principle of "showing 
him who is master." Yet so tenacious are some men of 
their dignity that they assert it by lashing their dogs, 
and so are served, if served at all, with the heartless 
work of a slave rather than the cheerful service of a 
sympathizing friend. 

Colonel Hutchinson, in his able treatise on breakins" 
strongly recommends the use of the check cord, and 
though satisfied that as a whole his system is much more 
complicated than it need be, years since I learned to 
agree with him in his opinion of the cord, and consider 
it now, for correction of certain faults by long odds more 
convenient and effectual than the whip. I have already 
explained how to use the cord, and now it only remains 
for me to show why I object to the whip in breaking 
young dogs, and to give cases when I deem it necessary. 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. IJl 

I object to the whip because at best there are few 
men cool enough to use it properly. It is too handy, 
and in a moment of passion the pup is so severely punish- 
ed that, instead of understanding- that he has done wrong, 
he becomes frightened by the pain and the violent 
manner of his master, attempts to escape, and if successful 
is often ever after a confirmed runaway. Again, I am 
satisfied that it effects nothing which the cord used as 
I have directed will not do better and without any danger. 
I have seen many naturally fine young dogs utterly ruined 
by a single injudicious thrashing, and I have yet to 
note the first case where the cord has done harm. 

After a dog has been thoroughly broken, then the 
whip can be used to advantage in certain cases. In all 
instances of evidently willful disobedience I use the lash, 
and smartly too (since one good flogging is far more 
effectual than, and saves a dozen slight ones). At the 
same time I watch my dog critically, and never allow 
castigation to go beyond the limit of reasonable punish- 
ment, lest I awaken an angry, obstinate resistance to my 
will, that either induces sullenness or develops a sly 
cunning by which the dog tries to get his own way the 
moment he is at liberty. Before I let the dog go I talk 
to him, but more in the tone of warning than reproof, 
and finally send him off with a gravely spoken caution, 
and as soon as I see that he is trying to make up for 
his fault by good work, 1 encourage him by a pleasant, 
cheerful word that places us again upon our ordinary 
sympathetic basis. 

I never go into the field with a broken dog without 
having my whip in my pocket, since, as I have said, cir- 



172 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



cumstances may arise where it is really needed, but I 
frequently avoid its use for an entire season by what I 
deem only proper vigilance. By this I mean watchincr 
my dog carefully at all times, never taking my eye off 
him if it can be avoided. By such watchfulness I can tell 
the moment when he strikes a trail, and if he appears in 
the least careless or excited, I can by a word check him 
and prevent the commission of a graver fault deserving 
the lash. This gives me the control over my dog, since 
he soon learns that he is constantly under my eye, and 
that the slightest fault will be instantly detected. Such 
supervision is not difficult, as by practice it becomes so 
habitual as to be almost involuntary, and besides the 
advantage it gives in handling the dog, it keeps one 
constantly on the alert, and prevents his being surprised 
by a wild bird rising unexpectedly, and perhaps escaping 
unshot at. 

Breaking an old dog is, as may be imagined, a very 
different thing from handling a young whelp. The adult 
animal has a confirmed will, established habits, and skill 
in winning his own ends, all of which must be overcome 
by the breaker without ruining the dog either by over 
persuasion or severity. It is, indeed, a trial of human 
against brute will, and a contest of a higher with a lower 
nature ; yet the latter is so supported by the peculiar 
difficulties of the task, that unless the breaker has great 
skill and experience at his command, he cannot hope for 
more than partial success in a majority of cases. This 
being the fact I advise all inexperienced sportsmen who 
may become possessed of old dogs valuable enough to 
warrant the expenditure of time and trouble necessary 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. 173 

for their breaking, to seek out thoroughly good breakers, 
and put the dogs into their hands rather than attempt 
to handle them personally. This will be far more satis- 
factory in the end to the sportsman himself, and will in 
all probability procure him a better broken dog than he 
could make unless the animal proved unusually tractable. 

There are but few dogs which are worth breaking 
after they arrive at maturity. Occasionally a dog is 
imported for stock purposes before he has passed through 
the breaker's hands, and as his usefulness will be greatly 
enhanced and (I think) his value as a. stock getter 
increased by breaking, his owner will be fully justified 
in having this done. Should he determine to attempt 
it himself, he will find the directions I have given for 
young dogs equally applicable in most cases to old ones, 
but naturally requiring far more time and patience, with 
proportional judgment and self control,, since he will not 
have an impressionable nature free from confirmed ideas 
to deal with, but one that has become willful and strong- 
from lack of proper control by a master. 

Though old dogs must be yard broken by the same 
course as younger ones, yet when they come to field 
work they are often so headstrong they need sharper 
treatment, and nothing in such cases equals the spike 
collar. Made as I shall presently direct, this will check 
the most persistent shot breaker or chaser, whether the 
habit be newly acquired or confirmed by past bad hand- 
ling, and will also compel the dog to give up a wild 
range and disregard of the whistle. Such faults are not, 
however, easily corrected, and will only yield to patience 
and determined will. Even when the dog performs well 



174 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

with the collar, he will frequently resume his bad practices 
the moment it is removed, and months may be required 
before he will abandon them finally. I am satisfied, 
however, that every dog capable of being broken at all, 
can be made to yield to this backed by intelligent appli- 
cation. In the first edition of this book I recommended 
mechanical appliances to correct wide range, but since 
then I have become satisfied that the spike collar will 
do the same work and more quickly. So that I have no 
hesitation in saying a dog which cannot be broken by 
the course I have given, supplemented by the spike collar, 
is practically unbreakable and will not repay time spent 
upon him. 

One of the best forms of spike collar I have used is 
made by stringing upon a fiat narrow strap wooden 
balls an inch and a quarter in diameter, till there are 
enough to reach nearly round the neck, the slits being 
so cut that the strap will prevent turning. The inside 
of the balls must be thickly set with short stout wires, 
projecting a quarter of an inch, and the ends of the strap 
fastened to rings an inch in diameter, first passing one 
end through a ring so as to make a noose. Holes 
should be made between the inside rinof and the balls, 
so that the severity of the punishment can be graded by 
inserting a bit of wire long enough to prevent the ring- 
passing over it. This will modify the choking power of 
the collar though not of the spikes. 

In order that the dog may trail the cord yet not be 
hurt by the spikes except when this is intended, a plain 
collar should be put on between this and the dog's head, 
and a loop of the check cord fastened to it by a string 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 75 

Strong enough to pull the cord, but not too strong to be 
broken by a sharp jerk when the spikes are needed. 

This collar may be used very severely at first, and 
later may be made simply a choke by turning the smooth 
side of the balls to the neck. At its utmost severity it is 
not so bad for the dog as repeated thrashings, and is 
much easier in application for the breaker. 

With an old dog that is a shot-breaker, I use the 
spil es, and a pin at the end of my cord to push into the 
o-round. The pin is very essential, as it allows me to 
devote my attention to the birds, without risk of having 
my aim spoiled by the jerk as the dog reaches the end 
of his tether. In using it, I walk fairly up to my dog's 
point, if the birds lie ; then push the pin into the ground, 
and put my heel on it. If the birds rise wild, I drop 
the pin instantly, and step on the cord close to it. Care 
must, however, be taken that the forward foot is placed 
on the cord, as otherwise an awkward and heavy fall may 
result if the dog is a strong one. With an old shot- 
breaker, I pull him in hand over hand roughly, till he 
reaches the exact spot where he bolted ; then make 
him "to ho," and rate him soundly with several jerks 
of the cord, proportional to the amount of punishment 
he has already received, and the manner in which he 
submits to it. I also make him remain at "to ho" 
for from five to ten minutes, going myself to the 
place where I stood when the birds rose, but holding 
the cord in my hand, and jerking it slightly with the 
command "to ho," if he attempts to move. I then call 
him in to me, and caution him quietly, but make friends 
with him partially before moving forward to where the 



176 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

bird has fallen, if I have killed. With a confirmed shot- 
breaker, or a dog that will chase the moment a bird 
rises, It is better not to fire at all, but devote the entire 
opportunity to discipline till the dog begins to give up. 
Some dogs, however, will not bolt unless they see a bird 
fall, and with such it Is necessary to kill in order to give 
a lesson. It is useless. In a majority of cases, to give 
one lesson and then go home for the day ; several les- 
sons In quick succession will be more effectual than 
double the number at long Intervals and It Is better to 
make a day's work of it, even If the dog submits entirely 
after one or two experiences, since the subsequent work 
accustoms him to the new order of things, and thus 
frequently effects a complete cure at the first trial. 

Some breakers shoot their dogs with small shot for 
breaking shot and wild ranging; this has even been 
advocated by some whose experience in the field consti- 
tutes them authorities, but this practice cannot be too 
strongly reprobated, as both brutal and senseless. I 
have seen It done In a number of cases, and never yet 
have known of Its doing good, while, on the contrary, I 
have seen several dogs made gun-shy, two ruined In 
appearance by having their tails broken, and one killed 
outright. By the means I have described I think I can 
break any dog capable of being educated, and make 
him a better animal than can be turned out by any 
advocate of the shooting theory. 

One point I have not touched upon, viz : curing a 
dog of biting birds. I have found but one plan effectual 
for this, and that is by running wires through a bird so 
that they will lie just under the skin on both sides. 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 77 



Throw this when you shoot and let the dog attempt to 
retrieve it. If he sets his teeth into it he will drop it in 
an instant, then go to him, put the bird in his mouth, 
and shut his jaws upon it driving the wires well into 
him with the command "carefully sir." One or two 
experiences of this kind will make the dog quit retrieving 
unless broken by force, then rebreak him by the system 
I have given and you will have no more trouble. A dog 
that has been forced to retrieve can be made to bring 
the wired bird till cured. If he gets cunning and 
though he bites birds killed, will still not touch the wired 
one, put the latter in his mouth every time till he stops 
retrieving, then proceed as above. A dog broken by 
the system I advocate will never become a biter except 
by gross mismanagement, but one and all can be cured 
by persistent and intelligent application of the wires, 
even if he resists the pressure of the thumb upon the 
lower jaw which I have mentioned. The whip is useless 
in such cases, because the dog must be shown his fault 
to understand for what he is corrected. The wires do 
this but the whip cannot, hence the one is good and 
the other bad. . 

It is a general complaint that dogs get headstrong 
during the close season, and are rank when first taken 
out, sportsmen must, therefore, either control their dogs 
between seasons, or avail themselves of some means of 
rebreaking them quickly when needed ; the cord and 
plain collar will do this in half an hour if properly used, 
or if the animal is but slightly rank, a stout rubber band 
about an inch wide may be put upon one hind leg just 
above the hock, so as to confine the cord of the leg. The 



178 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

restraint is soon recognized, and ordinarily submitted 
to in a very short time. It is best to keep dogs in 
breaking by attention at all times, but if by any circum- 
stance you are compelled to neglect them for a while, 
and you find that they are wild when you go into the 
field, use your cord promptly, and with proper judgment 
and patience you will soon have them under better 
subjection than if you take it out of them in any other 
way. 

I have been often asked what birds I consider the 
best to break a dog on, and I unhesitatingly say English 
snipe, in the fall. Next to the snipe I prefer fall cock. 
The first I deem best because the dog naturally acquires 
the habit of carrying his nose up In order to wind his 
birds, and he Is also all the time within plain sight. Fall 
cock are also good because a dog learns caution in 
approaching his game, as well as to stand it afar off for 
fear of flushing. For the same reason ruffed grouse 
are admirable, though from their wildness I do not 
advocate putting a dog to work on them till he has had 
some experience. For a well-trained and experienced 
dog, I deem this grou§e the gamest bird that flies, and 
though I frequently hear loud complaints about his not 
lying to point, I have as a rule found no trouble on that 
score, provided both I and my dogs did our part. Least 
of all, to work a young dog on, do I like the quail ; in 
the first place his scent is so strong when emitted that 
it seldoms puzzles the dog, and he can race up to his 
birds without caution ; next, when withholding his scent 
(and whether voluntary or not he does withhold it), he 
lies so like a stone that the best old dog cannot find 



"n 



BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS. I 79 



him at all, and a young one is very likely to become 
discouraged. I most emphatically say that I never saw 
a quail-broken dog that was as good on grouse, snipe or 
cock, as a dog broken on either of the others. I am 
fully satisfied that an inferior dog can hunt quail well 
and I know that it takes a superior one to do good 
work on the other birds I have named. I have shot 
nearly all of the game birds in most of their haunts, 
and looking back upon years of experience, I rank them 
in game qualities, for a well broken dog and crack shot, 
in the following order, viz : ruffed grouse, fall cock, 
English snipe, pinnated grouse, and quail. When I 
first expressed this opinion, I brought a hornet's nest 
about my ears ; yet I cared not, then or now, for I am 
writing from honest conviction and years of work in the 
field, during which time I have tested these birds fairly, 
and now give honor where I know honor is due. 



i8o 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 

AT the outset of this chapter I wish it distinctly 
understood, I lay no claim to medical knowledge 
in the true sense of the word. I have, however, owned 
dogs for many years, and at different times have had 
them suffer from all the forms of disease I shall presently 
mention, so that in caring for them I have picked up 
certain rough ideas of treatment which I shall give, but 
as I recognize my own deficiencies, I shall use liberal 
extracts from what I deem the best works upon canine 
diseases, in preference to confining myself to my own 
experience. Again I do not advise any one not possess- 
ed of knowledge of drugs, their properties and effects, 
to attempt treatment of severe cases, but instead to call 
in the services of a competent veterinarian or human 
practitioner, as greatly increasing the chances of saving 
life, and avoiding those sequents to certain ills which 
destroy the usefulness of the animal if he lives. 

Not inconsistent with the above is the conviction 
that every kennel owner should understand as thorough- 
ly as possible the nature and treatment of the diseases 
most common, and consequently most likely to attack 
his dogs, because with even the most competent advice, 
fully as much depends upon good nursing as upon proper 
prescriptions, and to be a good nurse one must have 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. l8l 

knowledge to detect and meet the changes which occur 
in the development of all cases. Every kennel owner 
should therefore provide himself with the works which 
treat of canine diseases as a specialty, and in addition 
should read other medical works whenever possible. I 
have found "The Dog" by Mayhew, and " The Dog in 
Health and Disease " by " Stonehenge," among the best 
of this class. The former has been very sharply criticised 
by veterinarians as incorrect in physiological matters, 
but however this may be, it certainly contains clear 
statements of symptoms, and well devised directions for 
treatment, which justify me in quoting from it in the 
present connection. 

I shall not pretend at this time to discuss any but 
the most common ills, because to write of all would re- 
quire a volume of itself and demand the labor of a skilled 
practitioner. The present work would be incomplete, if 
I passed over so important a matter entirely, so I shall 
offer in brief words what my reading and experience 
have taught me. 

Upon one point let me say a word of warning, viz : 
do not place any confidence in the " sure cures" men- 
tioned by correspondents in the sporting journals or 
passed from person to person. Medical science recog- 
nizes no specific for any disease, and what may cure one 
case may be wholly inoperative in another. Cases 
present great variety of symptoms, and some diseases 
like distemper, may attack either of several parts of the 
system, so that it must be apparent no single cause will 
be effective, but the treatment must vary with the exhi- 
bitions. The fact that certain remedies have the same 



l82 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



action in all cases, does not invalidate what I have 
written, because that action may be good in one instance 
and the worst possible in another; aconite is highly 
useful in fever, reducing it by depressing the heart's 
action, but if the system is reduced and the heart action 
feeble, it certainly cannot be productive of good, to 
lower it still more. The same principle applies to other 
instances, and intelligent treatment can only be based 
upon adaption to peculiar demands. 

Distemper. — First and most prominent in the list of 
canine diseases, both from its prevalence and deadly char- 
acter, I place distemper. Not a year passes without a 
visitation from this destroyer, which appears ever to 
seek shining marks for his shafts, and culls from our 
kennels their brightest ornaments. Here again we see 
how Nature provides for those who depend upon her 
alone ; for among the wretched curs of the street, 
unowned and uncared for, this disease is comparatively 
but little known, and even when it makes its appearance 
it generally assumes its mildest form, and the sufferer 
quickly recovers. Not so, however, with the representa- 
tive of blue blood, for he pays the penalty of his high 
breeding by an acuteness of suffering which too frequently 
either destroys him at once, or leaves him a victim to 
some incurable and distressing malady. 

Authorities differ both as to the exact nature of this 
disease, and the chances for its being successfully treated. 
Laverack describes it as "a blood poison, proceeding 
from the peculiar state of the atmosphere, for I have 
known it to break out virulently in England and Scotland 
at the same period;" while Mayhew declares that "In 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



its character, distemper approaches very near to 'con- 
tinued fever' in the human subject; the chief difference 
being consequent upon the more dehcate constitution 
and more irritable temperament of the dog, which 
prevents the two diseases from appearing exactly the 
same. It consists in a general fever, which produces a 
morbid excitement of all the mucous membranes. The 
digestive track is the principle seat of the disease, but 
of course its presence is most easily recognized at those 
parts which are most exposed to view. ... It essen- 
tially is fever affecting the entire of the mucous surfaces, 
but especially those of the alimentary canal.". 

Laverack says of it: "I am certain in my own mind 
there is no knozun ciire /' but here again Mayhew differs 
from him, for he says : " In my conviction, the disorder 
is feared only because it is not understood, and is ren- 
dered worse by the injudicious attempts to relieve it. 
I find it tractable, easily mastered, and when submitted 
to me before the system is exhausted, I am very seldom 
disappointed by the result of my treatment. It has for 
some time been my custom to tell those who bring me 
an animal affected with this complaint, that if my direc- 
tions are strictly followed the creature 'shall not die.^ 
When saying this, I pretend not to have life or death 
at my command, and the mildest affections will sometimes 
terminate fatally ; but I merely mean to imply that when 
proper measures are adopted, distemper is less likely to 
destroy than the majority of those diseases to which the 
dog is liable." 

Upon the symptoms denoting this disease and their 
development, Mayhew also writes : "The symptoms in 



1 84 



AMERICAN KENiNEL AND FIELD. 



the very early stage are not well marked, or by any 
means distinguished for their regularity. They may 
assume almost any form ; dullness and loss of appetite, 
purging, or vomiting, are very frequently the first indi- 
cations. The more than usual moisture of the eyes, and 
a short cough, are often the earliest signs that attract 
attention. When the disease is established, the animal 
is sensitive to cold. It seeks warmth, and is constantly 
shivering ; when taken hold of, it is felt to tremble 
violently, so much so that the pulse cannot be accurately 
counted. The bowels are generally constipated. A 
thick purulent discharge flows from the eyes ; and the 
white around the eye, if the upper lid be retracted, will 
be seen covered with numerous small and bright red 
vessels, giving to the part the appearance of acute 
inflammation. The vessels now spoken of are not to be 
confounded with the veins which are natural to this 
organ. These last are large, and of a purple hue, while 
their course is in the direction of the circumference of 
the cornea. The small vessels, indicative of distemper, 
are fine, bright in color, and their course is towards the 
center, or in a line directly the opposite to that indicated 
by the veins. They are never present during health, 
though they are often to be witnessed in other diseases 
besides that which is here treated of. A glairy mucus, or 
yellow fluid, moistens the nostrils; and if the ear be ap- 
plied to the head, the breathing will be discovered to be 
accompanied with an unusual sound. The cough is often 
severe and frequent ; it is sometimes spasmodic — the 
fits being almost convulsive, and terminating with the 
ejection of a small quantity of yellow, frothy liquid, 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. I 85 



which is thrown off by the stomach. The digestion is 
always impaired, and sickness is not unusual ; the matter 
vomited having- an offensive smell, and never beino- 
again consumed by the animal as is generally the case 
when the creature is in health. The nose is dry and 
harsh ; the coat staring and devoid of gloss ; the skin 
hotter than is customary, and the paws warm. The pulse 
is perhaps quicker by twenty beats than during the prior 
stage, but less full — the artery feeling sharp, short and 
thin under the finger. The treatment is rendered the 
more difficult because of the insidious natu^fe of the dis- 
order, and the uncertain character of its symptoms ; 
under such circumstances, it is no easy task to make 
perfectly clear those instructions I am about to give. I 
am in possession of no specific ; I do not pretend to 
teach how to conjure ; I am going to lay down certain 
rules which, if judiciously applied, will tend to take from 
this disease that fatal reputation which it has hitherto 
acquired. 

"The diet is of all importance; it must be strictly 
attended to. In the first place, meat or flesh must be 
withheld. Boiled rice, with a little broth from which 
the fat has been removed, may be the food of a weakly 
animal, but for the majority bread and milk will be suf- 
ficient; whichever is employed must be given perfectly 
cold. Sugar, butter, sweet biscuit, meat, gravy, greens, 
tea or pot liquor— either luxuries or trash — must be 
scrupulously denied in any quantity, however small. 
Skim-milk, if perfectly sweet, is to be 'preferred, and 
coarse bread or ship biscuits are better than the same 
articles of a finer quality. These will form the diet, 



1 86 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



when the dog can be brought to accept them. If, after 
a few trials, the dog stubbornly refuses such provender, 
meat must of necessity be given, but it should be of the 
very best description, and rather underdone. Of this 
kind it ought to be minced, and mixed with so much rice 
or ship biscuit as the animal can at first be made to eat 
with it ; the rice or biscuit may then be gradually increas- 
ed ; and in the end the vegetable substance will constitute, 
at all events, the major part of the support. Water 
constantly changed — a circumstance too little attended 
to where dogs are concerned — must be the only drink ; 
the bed must be warm and dry, but airy. Cleanliness 
cannot be carried to too nice an extent ; here the most 
fastidious attention is not out of place. Let the kennel 
be daily cleared, and the bed regularly changed at least 
thrice a week. The sensations being the only guide, 
it is best to leave the dog, as much as possible, capable 
of obeying its instinct ; but always let the bed be 
ample, as during the night the shivering generally pre- 
vails, and the cold fit is entirely independent of the heat 
to be felt at the skin, or the temperature of the season. 
Let the dog be kept away from the fire, for if permitted 
it will creep to the hearth, and may be injured by the 
falling cinders, when the burn will not perhaps readily 
heal. A cold or rather cool place is to be selected — one 
protected from wet, free from damp, and not exposed to 
wind or draughts. The kennel, if properly constructed, 
is the better house, for dogs do best in the open air. 

"Medical measures are not to be so quickly settled. 
A constant change of the agents employed will be imper- 
ative, and the practitioner must be prepared to meet 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. I 8/ 

every symptom as it appears. The treatment is almost 
wholly regulated by the symptoms, and as the last are 
various, of course the mode of vanquishing them cannot 
be uniform. To guide us, however, there is the well- 
known fact that the disease we have to subdue is of a 
febrile kind and has a tendency to assume a typhoid 
character ; therefore whatever is done must be' of a 
description not likely to exhaust — depletion is altogether 
out of the question. The object we have to keep in 
view is the support of nature, and the husbanding of 
those powers which the malady is certain to prey upon ; 
in proportion as this is done, so will be the issue. In 
the very early stage purgatives or emetics are admissible. 
If a dog is brought to me with reddened eyes, but no 
discharge, and the owner does no more with regard to 
the animal than complain of dullness, a want of appetite, 
and a desire to creep to the warmth, then I give a mild 
emetic; and this I repeat for three successive mornings, 
on the fourth day administering a gentle purge. Tartar 
emetic solution and purgative pills I employ for these 
purposes, in preference to castor oil or ipecacuanha, and 
during the same time I prescribe the following pills : 

Ext. belladonna, six to twenty-four grains. 
Nitre, one to four scruples. 
Ext. of gentian, one to four drachms. 
Powered quassia, a sufficiency. 

Make into twenty-four pills, and give three daily; 
choosing the lowest amount specified, or the intermediate 
quantities, according to the size of the animal. 

" Often under this treatment the disease will appear 
to be suddenly cut short. With the action of the purga- 



i88 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



tive, or even before it has acted, -all the symptoms will 
disappear, and nothing remains which seems to say any 
further treatment is required. I never rest here, for 
experience has taught me that these appearances are 
deceptive, and the disorder has a disposition to return. 
Consequently strict injunctions are given as to diet, and 
a course of tonics is adopted : 

Disulphate of quinine, one to four scruples. 
Sulphate of iron, one to four scruples. 
Extract of gentian, two to eight drachms. 
Powered quassia, a sufficiency. 

" Make into twenty pills, and give three daily. 

"At the same time I give liquor arsenicalis, which I 
prepare not exactly as is directed to be made by the 
London pharmacopoeia, but after the following method ; 

"Take any quantity of arsenious acid, and adding 
to it as much distilled water as will constitute one ounce 
of the fluid to every four grains of the substance, put the 
two into a glass vessel. To these put a quantity of carbon- 
ate of potash equal to that of the acid, and let the whole 
boil until the liguid is perfectly clear. The strength is 
the same as the preparation used in human practice ; the 
only difference is, the coloring and flavoring ingredients 
are omitted, because they render the medicine distaste- 
ful to the dog. The dose for the dog is from one drop 
to three drops, it may be carried higher, but should 
not be used in greater strength when a tonic or febrifuge 
effect only is desired. 

"Of the liquor arsenicalis I take ten to twenty drops, 
and adding one ounce of distilled water, mingled with a 
little simple syrup, I order a teaspoonful to be given 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 1 89 

thrice daily with the pills, or in a little milk, or in any 
fluid the creature is fond of. The taste being pleasant, 
the dog does not object to this physic, and it is of all 
importance that it should be annoyed at this time as 
little as may be possible. 

" Numerous are the cases which have thus been 
shortened by this method : and the advantage gained 
by this mode of treatment is, that if the measures 
employed be not absolutely necessary, they do no harm, 
and if required, they are those which calculate to miti- 
gate the disease ; so for three or four weeks, I pursue this 
course, and should all then appear well, I dismiss the case. 

" When the lungs are affected the following pill 
should be given every hour, provided the dog does not 
resist, taking care to keep the diet both low and small : 

Extract of belladonna, a quarter grain to one grain. 
Nitre, one to four grains. 
James's powder, a quarter grain to one grain. 
Conserve of roses, a sufficiency. 

•'With these a very little of the tincture of aconite 
may be also blended, not more than one drop to four 
pills. The tonics ought during the time to be discon- 
tinued. So soon as a marked change is observed, the 
tonic treatment must be resumed, nor need we wait 
until all signs of chest affection have disappeared. " 

" If the dog refuses to take these pills each hour, give 
the following, made into one pill, three times each day : 

Extract of belladonna, one to four grains. 
Nitre, three to eight grains. 
James's powder, one to four grains, 
Conserve of roses, sufficiency. 



I go 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



" When signs indicative of approaching fits are re- 
marked, small doses of mercury and ipecacuanha should 
be administered. 

Grey powder, five grains to one scruple. 
Ipecacuanha, one to four grains. 

" Give the above thrice daily ; but if it produces 
sickness, let the quantity at the next dose be one-half. 

"The treatment o£ distemper consists in avoiding 
all and everything which can debilitate ; it is, simply, 
strengthening by medicine aided by good nursing. The 
treatment during convalescence is by no means to be 
despised, for here we have to restore the strength, and, 
while we do so, to guard against a relapse. One cir- 
cumstance must not be lost sight of, namely, that nature 
is, after the disease has spent its violence, always anxious 
to repair the damage it may have inflicted. Bearing 
this in mind, much of our labor will be lightened, and 
more than ever shall we be satisfied to play second in the 
business. The less we do the better ; but, nevertheless, 
there remains something which will not let us continue 
perfectly idle." 

"Stonehenge" divides distemper into five varieties,- 
viz: *' I, Mild distemper; 2, Head distemper; 3, Chest 
distemper; 4, Belly distemper, and 5, Malignant dis- 
temper." The first is, as its name indicates, a mild form 
of the disease from which the patient usually recovers 
without trouble. The last is an aggravated form of any 
one type or a combination of more than one. In my 
own experience, I have seen all of the intermediate 
forms, and think a division into three classes sufficient 
for all practical purposes, because if these are understood. 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



191 



the practitioner will be prepared to treat the others. 
Classing" these varieties according to what my experience 
has shown to be their comparative fatality, beginning 
with that least to be feared, I will place them : i, Chest 
distemper; 2, Belly distemper ; 3, Head distemper. All 
of these forms may of course be fatal, but the first will 
generally yield to treatment and good care ; the second 
will frequently do so though not so often ; and the last, 
I have never known cured. In some years distemper is 
both epidemic and more fatal in character than others. 
The present season has been the worst I have ever 
known, nearly every dog dying that has been attacked. 
So far as I have been able to learn almost all have died 
in the same way, viz : from fits, indicating head dis- 
temper, ic, — brain complication. No matter what has 
been the early form of the disease, it has quickly assum- 
ed this type, and treatment has been unavailing to save 
life. I myself lost every young dog in my kennel in 
spite of all a skilled practitioner and my own experience 
could devise, and I am firmly convinced nothing could 
have saved them. Mayhew says, *'the fate of a dog 
attacked by distemper fits may be considered sealed," 
and this is so decidedly my own opinion, that I have 
resolved to hereafter at once destroy any dog I may 
have thus afflicted. I have had distemper but twice in 
my kennel in many years, and every dog I have lost 
died in this way, which, backed by the experience of 
others, justifies my opinion of the fatal character of this 

type. 

Chest distemper is marked by bronchitis, pneumonia 
or pleurisy. The symptoms are cough, fever, rapid 



192 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



breathing, abnormal sounds in the lungs, and pain. If 
the ear is applied to the side of a healthy dog, but little 
sound will be detected, and that of a smooth soft charac- 
ter, but when pneumonia is present there is a crackling 
sound or crepitating wheezing. In pleurisy, this sound 
is not so rough, though there is evident friction with 
more pain than in pneumonia. The remedies I have 
found most useful are aconite to reduce fever, and squills, 
chlorate of potass, and dovers powder to relieve the 
lungs, with mustard applications when the pain is severe. 

Aconite has been recommended as a sure cure, and 
through ignorance of its properties, has been prescribed 
in doses of dangerous strength. It is a powerful poison 
producing death by cardiac paralysis, and should there- 
fore be given with great caution and watchfulness of 
its effects. The pulse of adult healthy dogs varies from 
ninety to one hundred and ten, according to the nervous 
temperament of individuals. The temperature is about 
the same as that of a human being, viz, gSy^ degrees. 
The temperature should be taken by inserting a medical 
thermometer into the rectum and allowing it to remain 
there a full minute. When the temperature is abnorm- 
ally high, fever is present and aconite should be given 
in closes of one drop of the fluid extract of the root in a 
little water each hour till the temperature is reduced. 
The dose of squills, chlorate of potass, and dovers 
powder may be put up in pills, of about half the quantity 
of each which would be given to a man, and should be 
exhibited every hour till the lungs are relieved, and 
sufficiently often after that to control the trouble. 

Of distemper of the belly, which closely resembles 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. I93 

typhoid fever in the human patient, Stonehenge gives 
the following description: it "is too often the result of 
mismanagement, produced either by the abuse of vio- 
lent drugs or by neglect of attention to the secretions 
for some time previously. In the former case the 
* bowels become very relaxed at the end of a week or ten 
days from the first commencement of a case of mild 
distemper, and then there is a constant diarrhoea soon 
followed by the passage of large quantities of blood. 
This may be quite black and pitchy when it comes from 
the small intestines, or red and florid when the lower 
bowels are affected. Sometimes these symptoms appear 
of themselves, but generally they result from calomel 
or other violent medicines. When there has been 
neelect, and the bowels have been allowed to become 
confined, while at the same time the secretion of bile 
has been checked, a most dangerous symptom known 
as "the yellows," shows itself, the name being given in 
consequence of the skin and white of the eyes being 
stained by a yellow color from the presence of bile. 
This may occur without distemper ; but when it comes 
on during an attack of this disease it is almost invariably 
followed by death." 

I have quoted the above because it is as good 
description of the disease as I know of, but I do not 
eive Stonehenp^e's treatment because he recommends 
calomel for " the yellows," which according to his own 
showing as quoted, produces the bloody diarrhoea, j 
say emphatically I have never known of a case where 
calomel has acted well with a dog, and I have very 
frequently seen the worst results follow its exhibition, 



194 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



SO that I cannot consistently endorse its use, even upon 
the authority of one so generally correct as Stonehenge. 
When the bowels are relaxed, Stonehenge recom- 
mends the following astringent, viz : 

" Prepared chalk, two drachms. 
Mucilage of acacia, one ounce. 
Laudanum, one ounce. 
Tincture of ginger, two drachms. 
Water, five and one-half ounces. 

Of this give from a dessertspoonful to a tablespoon- 
ful every time the bowels are relaxed." This works 
well in many cases, but if it fails I have recourse to 
enemas of laudanum, from one-half to one teaspoonful, 
thin starch one tablespoonful. If the dog Is kept quiet 
for half an hour after this has been thrown up, it remains 
and I think acts better than any other astringent. I 
also find that when dogs have been doctored for any 
length of time they resist the exhibition of medicine but 
do not resist the enema if quietly given. This enema 
should be repeated as often as required till the bowels are 
controled. No fear of an overdose of laudanum within 
reasonable bounds need be entertained, as the dog's 
system will bear much more of it than will man's. If 
the yellows appear I use a teaspoonful of fringe tree, and 
If this does not move the bowels sufficiently, It must be 
supplemented with a dose of oil. I am convinced, how- 
ever, that yellows Is very rare, and that more harm Is 
done by inducing too frequent action of the bowels with 
consequent exhaustion, than by almost any other course. 
There Is in. nearly all cases of this type of distemper, a 
tendency to diarrhoea of a kind so difficult to check It 



DISEASES AND TFIEIR TREATMENT. 1 95 



should not be rashly risked, and cathartics of any kind 
should therefore be resorted to only when absolutely 
necessary. 

After controling the bowels the next step is to elim- 
inate the poison from the system, and one of the best 
prescriptions I know of for this, is 

Quinine, two grains. 

Muriate of ammonia, five grains. 

Ipecacuanha, one grain. 

The above Is quantity for one pill, three of which 
must be given daily. Another good one is 

Quinine, one drachm. 
Sulphuric acid, one drachm. 
Simp^ie syrup, one ounce. 
Water, four ounces. 

Dose, a teaspoonful three times a day. With one 
or the other of these I have generally succeeded in 
carrying a dog through an attack, though I cannot pre- 
tend to such success with this type of the disease as 
with chest distemper. 

Head distemper or brain complication has in my 
experience proved invariably fatal. I have tried every 
remedy obtainable from books or the advice of medical 
men, but have never met with success. I have never 
known this type exhibited in the early stages of distem- 
per, though it is mentioned by Stonehenge and others 
as a distinct type. With me it has been a sequent of 
the form last described, and has appeared after the 
patient has been broken down and exhausted. Upon 
general principles the treatment should be directed to 
cooling the head and reducing the pressure of blood 



196 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



upon the brain, for which there is nothing better than 
three grain doses of bromide of potass, I confess to no 
faith in any treatment, but give that prescribed by Stone- 
henge, though I have never known it to succeed. " Head 
distemper requires very energetic local treatment. From 
four to eight leeches may be applied to the inside of 
the ears, washing the part well with milk and water 
first, then put in a seton to the back part of the neck, 
first smearing the tape with blistering ointment. If 
the head is very much affected apply cold water to It by 
means of a wet cloth, or if this is not allowed, by the 
watering pot. Calomel and jalap must be given to act 
upon the liver and bowels, and a pill (consisting of half 
a grain to one grain of tartar emetic) two or three times 
a day. As soon as the urgent symptoms have disap- 
peared the dog often requires supporting with beef tea 
and tonics." 

Of the tonics, quinine is one of the best, given in pills 
of two grains two or three times a day as required. 
Benefit is often derived by alternating this with other 
tonics, and I have used with good results on alternate 
days Weyth's extract of beef, iron and wine, tablespoon- 
ful doses three times a day. 

When the stage of exhaustion comes on, everything 
depends upon keeping up the dog's strength, as if 
allowed to sink he can rarely or never be revived. So 
long as he will eat this is comparatively an easy matter, 
but when exhausted the appetite fails and food must be 
administered by force. To avoid disturbing the dog 
the food must possess strength In small quantity, and 
for this nothing in my opinion equals Lieblg's extract 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



197 



of beef. A teaspoonful should be dissolved in water, 
and where quick results are wanted, add to this a 
tablespoonful of old port wine. The beef may be 
given every two hours, but the dog must be kept as 
quiet as possible or the food will be ejected from the 
stomach. 

Distemper is highly contagious, and in my opinion, 
occurs very seldom without exposure. It is the scouro-e 
of young dogs at shows, and the mortality list is always 
large after one of these exhibitions, in fact it is almost 
equivalent to pronouncing a dog's doom to it to take 
him to a show if he has never passed through the 
disease. 

It is an error to suppose that dogs never have the 
distemper a second time ; during my own experience I 
have known of two cases where they have died from a 
second attack, and Mayhew mentions a case as occurrino- 
in his own kennel, where a dog had three different and 
distinct attacks of this disease during one autumn. 
Such cases are, however, fortunately rare, and the doo- 
which has once passed through it may generally be con- 
sidered thereafter safe from the distemper. 

Chorea and Palsy. — Of these, Stonehenge says : 
"The sequels of distemper should also be alluded to, as 
consisting of chorea, commonly called " the twitch " 
and a kind of palsy known as "the trembles." Both 
are produced by some obscure mischief done to the 
brain or spinal marrow in the course of the disease, and 
generally follow the kind which I have described as head 
distemper. Chorea may be known by a peculiar and 
idiotic looking drop in one forequarter when the dog 



198 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



begins to move, so that he bobs his head in a very help- 
less way. Sometimes the twitch is slight and partial, at 
others it is almost universal, but it always goes off during 
sleep. Shaking palsy affects the whole body, and is far 
more rare than chorea, which is fortunate, as I believe it to 
be incapable of cure." Of treatment, he says : " Little can 
be done in either case ; but nitrate of silver in doses of 
one-sixth grain has sometimes effected a cure of chorea. 
When the disease first comes on, a general tonic treat- 
ment should be tried, the first principle being to improve 
the general health by good food and fresh air, aided by 
stomachic medicines ; and secondly to give such strength- 
ening and tonic medicines, as are likely to improve the 
tone of the nervous system. Fresh country air is of the 
utmost consequence, and this alone will often dispel the 
attacks of chorea ; but when united to a liberal diet, it 
is doubly likely to be successful. The puppy should 
have plenty of good milk, or if that cannot be obtained, 
beef tea or mutton broth with oat meal or wheaten flour 
added in proportion to the looseness of the bowels. If 
these are confined they must be acted on by castor oil 
or rhubarb and aloes, or some of the aperients which 
merely act without producing much loss of strength, 
When the strength is somewhat improved by diet and 
stomachics, sulphate of zinc in doses varying from two 
to four grains, three times a day may be given ; or a 
grain or two of quinine, with two or three grains of 
extract of hemlock in a pill, will be likely to be service- 
able, but either must be used regularly for some weeks 
in order to have a fair chance of success. By these 
means many bad cases may be relieved, or perhaps 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. I 99 

nearly cured ; but with sporting dogs, if the attack is 
really severe, it is seldom that sufficient improvement 
is effected to make the dog as efficient as before. Hence 
in this instance it is perhaps better to destroy him, than 
to persist in patching him up in a way which will only 
render him a burden and disgrace to his master. Shak- 
ing palsy, I have already remarked, is wholly incurable." 

In addition to the above treatment, I would say, I 
have seen bad cases cured by use of the galvanic battery, 
after resisting the action of medicine, and I would not 
think of giving up a valuable dog however bad he might 
be, till the battery has been applied daily for a number 
of weeks. 

Partial. Paralysis, is a frequent result of the ex- 
haustion from distemper. This generally passes away 
as the strength returns, but sometimes becomes perma- 
nent if neglected. The treatment is the same as that 
given abov2, with the addition of strong embrocations 
well rubbed into the affected parts to stimulate healthy 
action. A good one is composed of mustard three oz., 
liquid ammonia, one oz., spirits turpentine, one oz., made 
into a thin paste and rubbed in two or three times a day. 
Hand rubbing is highly beneficial in all such cases, as 
well as in strains or rheumatism, and will often of itself 
cure slight attacks in their first stages. When the 
attack is severe or the parts affected extensive, the bat- 
tery must be used as in chorea. 

Milk Trouble — "Milk trouble" is not a medical 
term, but is the name commonly given to a disease of 
the lacteal glands, which frequently attacks bitches just 
before or just after whelping. It consists of hardening 



200 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

of the milk, followed by inflammation producing abscesses 
and broken breast. It is brought about in the first in- 
stance by one of two causes, which I will describe. 
During the latter part of her pregnancy the bitch in 
obedience to a natural law, begins to prepare for the 
nourishment of her whelps by enlargement of the udder 
and secretion of milk. The quantity secreted is usually 
small, and in most bitches the full flow does not come 
till two or three days after whelping. The quantity 
secreted from first to last varies, however. In individuals ; 
but in all cases where milk is present there is naturally 
sensitiveness of the udder and consequent liability to 
disease. It may be readily seen that even when the 
daily secretion is small, there- would eventually be an 
accumulation beyond the capacity of the udder if there 
was no consumption. This consumption nature effects 
prior to whelping by absorption of a portion by the 
system, but when the- secretion greatly exceeds the ab- 
sorption, the glands become clogged, and the milk 
hardens and acts, like a foreign body, to produce irrita- 
tion of the contiguous parts. The second and more 
common cause is taking cold. A bitch which is exposed 
at any season of the year may take cold without special 
inducement, but in my experience milk trouble is more 
common in hot weather than in cold. A bitch that is 
pregnant in the Summer will frequently go into the 
water for a bath, and the chill, though not sufficient to 
hurt her at other times, is potent in its influence upon 
the sensitive udder. Getting wet by rain, will produce 
equally bad results, and so should be guarded against 
as far as possible. 




SNIPE SHOOTING. 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 20I 



Some bitches are more liable to trouble than others, 
either from excessive secretion or greater sensitiveness. 
One attack also predisposes to another when again 
pregnant, by leaving the parts in an irritable condition 
which is called into action by the return of the milk. 
It therefore behooves the breeder to watch such a bitch 
carefully as it is far easier to break up the attack in its 
earlier stages than later. 

In a majority of cases, no trouble is suspected till 
it is fully established. It is true that exposure will 
frequently bring it on with such rapidity as to escape 
detection by ordinary care, but in the greater proportion 
of instances, daily inspection will reveal it before it be- 
comes serious. Examination should, therefore, not be 
omitted with any bitch after the milk forms. By passing 
the hand carefully over the udder, any unusual heat will 
be detected. Heat indicates inflammatory action, and 
calls for prompt treatment. When the milk begins to 
harden, lumps will be felt of greater or less size, accord- 
ing to the extent to which the hardening has gone, and 
these must be reduced. If the secretion is excessive, 
it will be manifested by the fullness of the udder, and 
should be relieved by drawing off the superabundant 
milk with a breast pump. 

When the trouble is established, or when it assumes 
a decided character, the treatment must be both external 
and internal, and this without regard to whether it is 
developed before or after whelping. Fever is always 
present when the udder is much affected, but may not 
be recognized by an inexperienced observer, and the 
only sure test is by the thermometer. Of course some 



202 



AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



fever will be present after whelping, but no matter what 
the cause, at least no harm will be done by anti-phlogistic 
treatment. The best remedy is aconite, the dose being 
one drop of the fluid extract of the root, given in a little 
water each hour till the thermometer shows a decrease 
of temperature. As aconite is a very powerful poison, 
it should not be exhibited in larger doses than the above, 
and should be carefully watched, and stopped as soon 
as the effect is gained. This is all the internal treatment 
needed in the early stages. When lumps are detected 
they must be reduced by gently kneading them between 
the fingers. If the trouble comes on after whelping, 
the puppies will very often reduce it by simply drawing 
the milk, but it occasionally comes before whelping, or 
when the bitch has lost her litter, and then only special 
treatment will avail. It is not well to attempt drying 
up the milk in a bitch that has lost her litter till it has 
been reduced in quantity ; for this reason the breast 
pump should be used each time before the application 
of remedies to disperse the milk. If abscesses form, 
which may be detected by the appearance of lumps, soft 
and evidently filled with fluid, these must be lanced 
when they come to the surface. To lance an abscess 
the knife should be introduced at the lowest portion as 
the udder hangs down, and the cut made upward and 
outward ; in this way perfect drainage is established and 
the pus cannot collect and form a sinus. The abscess 
should not be lanced till ripe, and should be done with 
great care by an experienced person, or important glands 
may be severed. When lanced, or if the abscesses do 
not come to the surface readily, poultices of ground flax- 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 203 

seed must be applied. The pus must be drawn off by 
very gentle pressure exerted from the upper part of the 
udder downward. The udder should also be supported, 
by a sling passed over the back, and if puppies are kept 
on the bitch the sore portion must be secured by a bag, 
or the puppies may tear it open. When the drainage 
has been fully secured, the parts must be bathed with 
the regular bathing solution of carbolic acid, and from 
the time that pus is formed treatment must be offered to 
prevent Its absorption into the system, or the bitch will 
die of blood poisoning. The best remedy is a bolus of 
quinine, iron and gentian, administered from two to 
three times a day, and continued till the discharge has 
entirely passed away, and healthy healing action set in. 
When this is obtained, if the bitch has lost her litter, 
the milk should be dried up by applications of camphor- 
ated oil, and any fever controled by aconite. There is 
no great danger to life in even broken breast, the only 
danger being through absorption of the pus, but there 
is great danger of loss of that portion of the udder 
affected, thus reducing the power of the bitch to nourish 
her subsequent whelps. In severe cases this result is 
almost certain. 

« 

Mange is probably next to distemper the worst pest 
of the kennel keeper. It is induced in ordinary cases 
by lack of cleanliness, bad food or contagion. So long 
as the dogs are in their regular quarters, the two first 
can be avoided by care, but when traveling in crates or 
boxes, such supervision cannot always be exercised. 
Bench shows are also pest houses for mange, as the close 
confinement of a larg^e number of doos is almost sure to 



204 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

produce it. It Is, therefore, always best before shipping 
dogs or taking them to a show, to wash them with car- 
boHc soap, which, from its disinfecting powers, is a great 
preventive of disease, and to supplement this on their 
arrival at home by two or three washings with Glenn's 
Sulphur Soap. 

I said in a former part of this chapter, there is no 
specific for disease, but sulphur comes as near as possible 
being a specific for diseases of the skin. Of all forms 
of application, the soap I have mentioned is the most 
convenient, and so sure is it that for years I have used 
no other remedy. It is probable that in neglected or 
confirmed cases, some other agent may act more rapidly, 
but such are — so far as my experience shows — danger- 
ous to the general health. The mercurial preparations 
are very efficient remedies, but I have known dogs so 
badly poisoned by them, I do not consider them safe for 
general use, and believe that all curable cases can be as 
surely and more safely treated with the soap, and backed 
by Fowler's solution given internally. With proper 
attention by which the first signs of mange will be 
detected, two or three thorough washings will generally 
be all sufficient. The soap must be well rubbed into 
the skin and a thick lather raised which should be left 
to dry on, with proper precautions to prevent the dog 
takine cold. If this does not effect a cure the washinof 
should be continued daily, and five drops of Fowler's 
solution given in a little water three times a day. Where 
mange has been allowed to run into the chronic form, 
recovery will naturally be slow, but with two exceptions 
I think it can always be brought about by this treatment. 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



205 



The exceptions are hereditary mange, and a form I 
have very seldom seen, which breaks out in rings Hke 
ringworm, accompanied with great thickening of the 
skin, formation of scabs and discharge of watery matter. 
These rings rapidly run together till the entire body 
becomes affected, great waste of flesh ensues, and the 
dog dies in misery if not killed, I have fortunately seen 
but few examples of this, and those proved incurable, 
but I have heard of other cases, though none that were 
successfully treated. I do not find this type of mange 
described unmistakably in any book or mentioned by 
any writer. I am inclined to believe it due to some humor 
or taint of the blood other than ordinary, though of 
what character, and whence emenating I do not pretend 
to say, nor do I pretend to prescribe any treatment. 

That mange is hereditary I am well convinced. I 
have known many instances where a pregnant bitch had 
mange, but was apparently cured before whelping, yet 
the whelps showed the disease unmistakably, were diffi- 
cult to cure, and in fact where never fully cured, as the 
disease returned at Intervals all through their lives 
without any apparent exciting cause. Whether the 
s^^stem in such a case can ever be thoroughly purified 
by any treatment I am not prepared to say, but I am 
satisfied it will resist such treatment as the majority of 
men can give, and as cure Is exceptional, I feel justified 
in placing this in the list of Incurables with the last 
named variety. 

I have not attempted to divide mange into Its dif- 
ferent forms, because I have found all — but those 
excepted — yield to the same treatment, and hence have 



206 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

not deemed such division necessary. In all cases, 
treatment must be supplemented by change of food, and 
the elimination of all that may heat the blood. Meat 
and rich stuffs must be rigidly denied, and bread, vege- 
tables and rice substituted, starving the dog till he will 
eat them. A mild aperient should be occasionally given 
to cleanse the system, and a bed of shavings in place of 
straw or hay, as the minute particles of these irritate the 
skin. 

Rheumatism is an ill to which all dogs are liable. 
It may be local as in kennel lameness or chest founder, 
or general in character. Kennel lameness shows itself 
in stiffness of the shoulders when the dog gallops down 
hill or jumps out of his bunk. It generally yields to 
cathartic treatment, followed by thorough rubbing of 
the parts with liniment composed of equal parts of 
spirits of ammonia, spirits of turpentine and laudanum. 
If it resists this it should be treated in the same way as 
o-eneral rheumatism. 

In general rheumatism — the term being used in 
distinction from kennel lameness — the fever must be con- 
troled by aconite, given as directed in distemper, and 
In addition a pill composed of 

Salicine four grains. 

Powdered colchicun, two grains. 

Opium, one-half grain, 

must be given every three hours till a change for the 
better is observed, when the time may be lengthened 
The liniment used In kennel lameness may be used 
with advantage when the pain is not too great to permit 
of application. If the joints are much swollen or very 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 20/ 

painful, relief may be got by wrapping them in cotton 
battinof. 

Canker of the Ear is caused by derangement of 
the system, through disease or bad food, or by injury, 
or the pressure of foreign bodies in the ear. It is 
exhibited by a discharge from the ear smelling like old 
cheese, generally of a black appearance, soreness about 
the root when pressed, a tendency to lop the head to 
the affected side and flap the ears frequently. If taken 
in time the disease generally yields readily to treatment, 
but if neglected it assumes a chronic character difficult 
to control, and very possibly causing deafness, or involv- 
ing the surrounding tissues and ultimately causing death. 
The treatment is both general and local. The first 
consists of the exhibition of a cathartic followed by a 
change of diet to bread and vegetables, and in bad cases 
giving five drops of Fowler's solution, three times a day, 
as an alterative. The local applications, depend upon 
the character of the case ; If mild, it will generally be 
cured by pouring Into the ear, twice a day, a few drops 
of weak solution of carbolic acid. Mayhew recommends 
liquor plumbi and water equal parts, but when severe 
stronger remedies must be used. A small portion of 
powdered iodoform blown into the ear with a quill once 
a day, will frequently induce a change, but if all else 
fails a seton must be put In back of the ear, and a few 
drops of weak solution nitrate of silver poured into the 
ear every other day. 

If the flapping of the ears causes external ulcers 
along the rim, these must be protected by binding a 
piece of common plaster over them, to prevent the scabs 



208 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

being broken up. When necessary they must be opened 
and washed with solution of carbolic acid. 

Cuts or Tears must be carefully washed clean in 
tepid water, then bound up in cloths wet with solution 
of carbolic acid, or if so located that they cannot be con- 
veniently bandaged, they must be painted with Friar's 
balsam. Large cuts must, of course, be stitched up with 
a surgical needle and frequently wet with carbolic acid 
to prevent suppuration. If proud flesh forms, this must 
be kept down, but in such cases medical help had better 
be called in, or severe soughing of the tissues may be 

induced. 

The Eye is too delicate an organ to be roughly 
treated, and in all cases of severe injury a competent 
occulist should be consulted, but slight injuries received 
in the field require only simple treatment by a wash or 
cooling lotion, and for such, Mayhew prescribes the 
following : 

" A square of soft lint, formed by doubling a large 
square several times, is laid upon the painful organ, and 
kept wet with the following lotion : 

(i) Lotion for the eye : 

Tinct. arnic, mont., three drops. 

Tinct. opii, six drops. 

Mist, camph., one ounce. 

The first symptoms having subsided — that Is, the 
dog being capable of raising the lid, and the flow of tears 
having in some measure stopped — the previous lotion 
may be changed for the following wash ; 

(2) Eye wash: 

Arg nit, one grain. 

Mist, camph,, or aqua dist., one ounce." 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 209 

This wash should be apphed with a camel's hair pencil 
dipped in the solution and drawn across the eye ball 
after separating the lids, two or three times a day. If 
a white film forms over the ball, this may be got rid of 
by blowing into the eye with a quill twice a day a small 
quantity of powered white sugar. 

Worms are the most deadly enemies of young 
puppies, and annually destroy more, than all other causes 
combined. They are most to be dreaded at weaning 
time, as the change of food naturally reduces the strength 
of system in some degree, rendering the whelps less 
capable of resisting these parasites. Two kinds of 
worms are most common, viz : the maw worm and the 
round worm. The former Is about an inch long, white, 
with a pointed head and flat tail. These dwell in the 
large intestines, and though In great numbers seldom do 
much damage. The round worm is a light pink or flesh 
color, from three to six inches long, with pointed ends, 
and is a terrible scourge to the kennel. The presence 
of worms is indicated by loss of flesh, a rough staring 
coat, fetid breath, loss of appetite or a voracious and 
depraved one, causing the pups to eat stones or other 
hard bodies, loose stools with mucus or blood, and 
when in great numbers, fits are frequently exhibited. 
I have tried all the remedies prescribed in medical w^orks, 
and have seen all fail, but the one with which I have 
been most generally successful, and which will, I think, 
be invariably so if used in time, Is spirits of turpentine, 
half teaspoonful doses In a dessert-spoonful of olive oil, 
given on an empty stomach two or three times a week, as 
soon as any symptoms of worms are noticed. This is the 



2IO AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

dose for a puppy six weeks old, and should be increased 
for older ones. I use olive oil with young pups because 
it is not strongly cathartic, yet serves to remove the 
dead worms and to counteract the caustic properties of 
the turpentine. With older dogs castor oil may be sub- 
stituted. Tape worm is comparatively rare in the dog, 
and when present is generally so in adult animals. The 
treatment is the same as already given, except that as 
a preliminary the dog must be got to eat a quantity of 
pumpkin seeds. Fully half a pint should be pounded 
up, mixed with meal and fried. The dog will generally 
eat the cakes readily, and they must be his only food 
for thirty-six hours, then he must be given a full tea- 
spoonful of turpentine in two tablespoonsful of castor 
oil, and if this does not move the bowels freely in a 
couple of hours another dose of oil must be added. 

Serous Abscesses. — These are generally caused by 
bruises received by the dog while at play or in the field, 
and are sometimes difficult to get rid of. If the swelling 
appears to contain fluid, a pitch plaster should be applied 
to draw it to a head, and when fully ripe, if it does not 
burst, it should be lanced. After being well-drained 
the wound must be washed with solution of carbolic acid. 

Wounded Feet. — It very frequently happens, espe- 
cially at the opening of the season, that dogs become 
foot-sore. This (in the absence of absolute injury), is 
caused by the wearing away of the cuticle which covers 
the surface of the foot. During the close season, as the 
dogs have then but little exercise, this foot-pad becomes 
thin and tender, so that a few days', or even hours', work 
on very rough ground renders it extremely sensitive. 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 2 11 

Some dogs are undoubtedly more prone to this trouble 
than others, but all will suffer at times unless care is 
taken to render the feet hard and tough before the 
season opens. I have found the best treatment to con- 
sist in washing the feet carefully in tepid water and 
castile soap ; then after drying, soak them with a wash 
composed of two grains of chloride of zinc to one ounce 
of water, with one or two drops of the essence of lemon ; 
next soak some soft rags in this lotion, and wrap them 
round the injured foot, covering the whole with a boot. 
This is the treatment prescribed by Mayhew, and I 
have seen it tried with perfect success in many cases. 
In cases where the dog is not very lame, and it is 
desirable to work him, the boot may be worn in the 
field. The simplest and best form of boot consists of a 
leather bag made to fit the leg, and with a bottom made 
of a circular piece of stout, but not stiff, leather the size 
of the foot. The top of the boot may be left unsewed, 
so as to wrap around the limb, and fasten with a cord 
of soft leather or strong listing. After a day's hunt, 
especially late in the fall, the dog's feet should be looked 
to, and all thorns extracted, and burs combed out of his 
hair, before he is sent to his kennel. If any thorns are 
found to be too deeply imbedded to be removed without 
cutting for them, a plaster of shoemaker's wax, or a 
bread and milk poultice will draw them out during the 
night. If a strain shows itself, bathe with the lotion 
prescribed for rheumatism. 

The Kennel. — If dogs are expected to do good 
service, it is imperatively necessary that they be well 
housed and well fed. The kennel should therefore be 



212 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

SO arranged as to be warm In winter, and cool in summer. 
It should, if possible, be built on a hill side, so as to 
have good drainage, and where this cannot be done the 
ground should be plowed up into a ridge before the 
kennel is built. To accommodate a brace of dogs well 
will require a room six feet by eight, high enough for a 
man to stand upright in, with shed roof, the outside 
weather boarded, the inside sealed with matched stuff 
smoothly planed. The floor — also of planed matched 
stuff — should have a sharp pitch to carry off all water, 
which must be received into a drain pipe under the floor 
and carried away from the building. The bunk should 
be fastened against the wall about a foot from the floor, 
and should have a slat bottom to allow the broken bed- 
ding to fall through. This building should be set upon 
posts, eighteen inches above the ground, which will give 
a place for the dogs to lie In the shade and cool dirt In 
summer. A step should be placed in front of the door 
to avoid the jar to the dog's shoulders in jumping in or 
out. 

As dogs should be confined as little as possible, there 
should be a yard attached to the kennel at least twelve 
by twenty-four feet, but besides such exercise as they 
get in this, they must have a good run once a day at 
least. The entire kennel and yards must be kept 
scrupulously clean, all dirt being carefully swept up each 
day, and the interior of the building white-washed twice 
a year, a strong solution of carbolic acid being added to 
the wash. The water crock should be set in one corner 
of the yard, upon a pedestal, raising It a foot from the 
ground to prevent its being defiled. It should be kept 



DISEASES x\ND THEIR TREATMENT. 213 

full of pure water, and should be frequently washed out. 
Food. — The best that can be given dogs is table 
scraps, containing a mixture of meat, bread and vege- 
tables, but where too many dogs are kept for this to be 
got in sufficient quantity, the next best is made by 
boiling a beef head to rags and thickening with mixed 
oat and corn meal, with vegetables added two or three 
times a week. This is a cheap and healthy diet, upon 
which dogs keep in good condition the year round. It 
can be baked Into cakes when required for a journey, 
but will not, of course, keep long in warm weather. 
Food should always be fresh, as, though the dogs may 
eat it when stale, they will not do as well upon it, besides 
running the risk of deranging their systems. For a long 
journey, or while shooting in places where food cannot 
be properly prepared, Spratt's dog biscuits are the best 
substitute I know of. 



2 14 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 



CHAPTER IX. 

BENCH SHOWS AND FIELD TRIALS. 

THESE are matters over which, from one cause or 
another, there has been much contention, and it is 
not my purpose in the present chapter to discuss vexed 
questions, but simply to point out what I deem the good 
and bad points of both shows and trials, with such 
changes as I think will be productive of improvement, 
and the furtherance of the purpose for which these 
exhibitions have been instituted. 

Those who recall the type of dogs exhibited in our 
first shows, and compare them with such classes as we 
see now, need no argument in favor of the bench. It 
is no exaggeration to say, that the quality of sporting 
dogs has been more than doubled within ten years, and 
that the knowledge of correct form so widely dissemi- 
nated, and the incentive to care in breeding, is due 
entirely to shows and show competition ; yet with all 
that has been done possibilities are not yet exhausted, 
and as great improvement may be wrought in the future 
as has been effected in the past. 

Some of our most important classes, though profess- 
edly kept up, have in reality been practically destroyed 
by license in judging, and as the public is being taught 
by the repeated placing of certain dogs, to regard them 
as typical of their breeds, though in fact they are not at 



BENCH SHOWS AND FIELD TRIALS. 215 



all of correct form, It is very evident that a few years 
persistence in this course, will result in the utter ex- 
tinction of race type in these classes. This evil originates 
in the lack of a recognized standard and its compulsory 
use by judges. Stonehenge's standard is accepted abroad, 
and a show judge is expected to be guided by it, so that 
a departure from the form there laid down, would con- 
stitute good ground for protest of an award. With a 
definite standard thus accepted and generally known, 
breeders have a guide to go by, and judging becomes 
consistent as compared with the do as you please system, 
where a judge is controled solely by personal caprice. 
In this country, though the same standard is quoted, and 
would be referred to in deciding a question of the com- 
parative merits of two dogs outside of a show ring, it is 
ignored by show committees, in so far, that with idiotic 
Inconsistency, they declare in their circulars that "the 
judges will be requested to use Stonehenge's standard in 
judging, but departure from it will not constitute ground 
for protest." I do not hesitate to pronounce such a 
declaration a display of ignorance and a breach of faith, 
which ought to make every such show a failure. It 
displays ignorance of the pernicious results of placing 
uncontroled power in the hands of judges, who may be 
prejudiced upon correct form or susceptible to the 
Influences of exhibitors. It Is a breach of faith, because 
exhibitors have a right to expect that their dogs will be 
judged by the recognized standard of their respective 
classes, and that they will be protected in their rights 
by the committee. The fact that this declaration is 
made In the advance circulars, and is or may be known 



2l6 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



to all men before they make their entries, does not 
constitute consent to it on the part of exhibitors, any 
more than the purchase of a railroad ticket constitutes 
consent to the release of liability, with which companies 
have attempted to burden their tickets. There is a 
moral obligation resting upon every committee, that it 
will care for and protect the interests of its patrons, 
and if a man who, by careful judgment and skill in 
breeding, has produced a dog true to the recognized 
type of his class, has that dog beaten by one not of true 
type, through the fancy of the judge, made possible of 
indulgence by this declaration of the committee, this 
obligation is violated, and a wrong done, not alone 
to the individual, but to all breeders of the same class 
of dogs. 

There have been shows held in this country, which 
have done far more harm than good, owing to the igno- 
rance or prejudice displayed in the awards. Dogs of 
extreme opposite types have been placed in the same class 
showing that the judge either did not know which was 
the correct type, or was influenced by personal consider- 
ations in his selection. If a standard was recognized 
and made obligatory upon the judges, I say as a breeder 
I would rather submit dogs to the inspection of an 
inexperienced boy, who had studied the standard suffici- 
ently to know its requirements, than to the uncontroled 
criticism of the so called "good judges" who have 
presided at many of our prominent shows, and displayed 
only knowledge based upon prejudice in favor of one 
style of form, and have selected winners that conformed 
to it, whether it belonged to the breed or not. I say 



BE-NXH SHO^YS AND FIELD TRIALS. 2 1 



without hesitation, that the awards at many prominent 
shows prove that the judges have taken the type of the 
Enghsh setters as the standard for all breeds, and as this 
is not natural to the Irish or Gordons, its enforcement 
against those dogs tends to destroy the distinguishing 
characteristics of their breeds, by stamping them as bad 
In form and incorrect in type. Firm believer as I am 
in the superiority of the English setter over all others, 
I should be unjust and false to the memory of many 
noble dogs I have known of, if I did not concede grand 
qualities to the Irish and Gordons. It must be remem- 
bered that far more attention has been devoted of late 
years to the improvement of the English setter than to 
the others, and possibly the present superiority of the 
one may be due to this greater care. I am not so 
bigotted as to deny the possibility that other dogs can 
be brought up to an equality with my favorites by the 
same skillful selection and breeding. It is certain that 
defects of formation are present in many Irish and 
Gordon setters, not defects as judged merely by the 
English type, but as judged by their own, and these 
should certainly be got rid of. I believe that the Irish 
and Gordons can be made as good in form, considered in 
the light of adaptation for practical work, as is the best 
English setter of the day, and this, too, without losing 
their typical character. If the present style of judging 
continues, ten years longer there will not be a typical 
Irish or Gordon setter exhibited, but we shall have dogs 
qualified for competition in the English class, where 
latitude in color is allowed, though such dogs may not 
have a drop of English blood in their veins. Against 



2IC) AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



such demoralization, I, as an earnest admirer of the dog, 
enter my protest, and trust it will be sustained by the 
verdict of my brother sportsmen. 

There is but one remedy for this growing evil, — it 
lies in the adoption of a standard and the enforcement of 
judging by it. If Stonehenge's standard is faulty, let it 
be revised and corrected ; if a better can be devised, by 
all means let us have it, but let us have something by 
which we can guide ourselves in breeding, and not be 
forced to follow the will o' the wisp of Tom, Dick and 
Harry's fancy when selected to pass judgment upon our 
dogs, or be obliged to see what experience and study 
show to be true types, sacrificed to ignorance or prejudice. 
The judges at field trials are bound down by a set of 
rules which control their awards, or force them to set 
the rules at defiance. Why then, should show judges 
be allowed a liberty denied to others equally trustworthy ? 
The rigidity of trial rules may, under certain circum- 
stances, produce bad results ; as an example, we often 
see in the reports of trials, that the judges were obliged 
to penalize a dog for flushing, though they considered 
there were extenuating circumstances. If then, latitude 
of judgment is denied in trials where the element of 
uncertainty and the chapter of accidents cannot be pro- 
vided for, with what propriety is it allowed in the selection 
of show winners, whose fitness for the rank should be 
determined by what is comparatively an exact science ? 
The fact that a trial winner may win hundreds of dollars 
while the bench winner gets only tens, is no reason for 
laxity in restrictions. The amount of money in either 
case does not constitute the true stake, and the principle 



BENCH SHOWS AND FIELD TRIALS. 2I9 

of correct form by which breeders shall be guided in all 
their efforts, is of more importance than the success or 
failure of any individual trial winner. 

I am as firm a believer in the principle of field trials 
as I am in bench shows. Incomplete tests, as trials 
must necessarily be, they are the only public tests 
possible, and public tests are the only positive and 
disinterested proofs of merit. Fairly run, under well 
devised rules, trials afford an opportunity for a dog to 
be tried against his fellows and to show his superiority, 
if it exists. Circumstances may indeed militate against 
an individual and he be defeated through no fault of 
his own, but such are only of occasional occurrence, and 
in the long run each dog has an equal chance, and wins 
or loses according to his deserts. Success at a trial Is 
more important than upon the bench, by just as much 
as field quality exceeds In value mere beauty of form, 
and hence the trial winner will always outrank the mere 
bench winner in the estimation of practical sportsmen. 

To make trials successful the rules must be well 
devised, and the running free from all suspicion of 
favoritism. Well devised rules are those which provide 
for the exhibition of qualities best adapted to field work 
In the sections for which the trials are designed. In a 
country with such diversity of surface and game as our 
own, I am fully satisfied trials must be local to be of any 
value. It is impossible for National or general trials 
to be as valuable as local ones, for the reason that no 
one set of rules can be equally applicable to all dogs 
where such difference in style of work is demanded. 
Our present National trials with rules adapted to West- 



220 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

ern and Southern dogs, where the country is unenclosed 
and free from thick cover, afford no chance for the 
display of qualities required for successful work in the 
small fields and woodlands of the Eastern and Middle 
States, and as the high rank conceded to trial winners 
makes them attractive to sportsman generally, the result 
of our National trials will be the breeding of dogs suited 
only to certain sections and useless in others, as the 
majority of amateurs have neither the experience nor 
the time necessary to break a fast wide ranging dog, to 
the moderate speed and narrow beat required for an 
enclosed country and wild woodland birds. 

I have no wish to be unjust to the so called " National " 
club, nor do I think I am, when I say, it is national only 
in name, and the fact that its members are not confined 
to any section. As a Western and Southern club it is 
a success, but its claim to national character is defeated 
by its inability to place the dogs of all sections upon an 
equal footing in its competitions, and to stimulate the 
breeding of those suited to all kinds of work. The fact 
that certain Eastern dogs have run in the National 
trials does not contradict this assertion, but rather proves 
what I have claimed, viz : that dogs unsuited for certain 
sections, have been introduced into them by the value 
attached to trial winnings. In a previous chapter, I 
quoted the words of the owner of a prominent trial dog 
in the East, to the effect that he wanted a fast puppy, 
because, though he would not give a cent for a flyer for 
work, the points given for pace made speed necessary 
for trials, and this, so far as the opinion of a gentleman 
of experience is of value, sustains my position. It Is 



BENCH SHOWS AND FIELD TRIALS. 22 1 

well known that most of the Eastern trial winners are 
kept for stock purposes only, and are not taken into 
the field except for occasional wark on quails, and further 
that all these dogs have been broken by the best pro- 
fessional breakers and not by amateurs, which sustains 
the view that such are not suited to amateurs, in that only 
professionally broken ones have achieved any reputation. 
The mistakes in our entire present trial system 
originated in the fact that the great majority of members 
of the National club, who have from the first been 
present at its meetings and controled Its legislation, 
have been Western and Southern gentlemen who have 
naturally regarded sport from their own stand point, 
and devised rules in accordance with their own experience. 
It has not been the fault of such members that Eastern 
men have not attended the meetings and discussed the 
rules, but the result of this absence is, that the club is 
really sectional in character though national in name. 
I do not think this absence has been due to any luke- 
warm interests in sporting matters on the part of Eastern 
sportsmen, but to misapprehension of the character hon- 
estly intended to be given the club. From the fact that 
the club was organized in the west, it was from the first 
regarded as a western institution, and the rules under 
which its trials have been run, have served to strengthen 
this feeling. In one way the club could have been 
made truly national, and that is, by its holding trials in 
different sections, under rules adapted to each. This 
might have been brought about in the past, but in my 
opinion the time for it has gone by, because there have 
sprung up in the east, rival associations, and it is not 



AMERICAN KEXXEL AND FIELD. 



likely these could be Induced to acknowledge the 
supremacy of the National body, so that practically the 
club is and must remain sectional. 

A bad result of the National club rule, is, that East- 
ern Associations have, by the force of example, been 
induced to adopt one of their most objectionable feat- 
ures, viz : the encouragement of excessive speed, thereby 
really offering a premium for dogs unfit for work outside 
of trial running. To find game suited for such dogs 
the trials are held in the South, entailing a costly 
journey, and a total expense beyond the means of any 
but Avealthy men. For trials to be generally popular, 
and to be productive of the highest good, they must be 
brought within the reach of the average sportsman. To 
effect this, they must be inexpensive, and must be held 
upon the game which such men hunt. Here is just 
where local associations come into play. To run a gen- 
eral meeting, money and game must both be abundant, 
but a small one can be made equally successful upon 
moderate supplies. There are but few sections of the 
Eastern and INIiddle states, where State associations 
cannot run good meetings upon mixed game, and there 
are plenty of men who will gladly enter their dogs, who 
will not enter them in trials restricted to one bird. The 
fact that the prizes at such meetings must be small, is 
no reason for failure ; men of moderate means are fully 
as alive to the honor of victory as their more w^ealthy 
brothers, and by confining certain stakes to amateurs, 
an Inducement will be offered, which will call out 
entries, and promote a manly rivalry that will result In 
improved breaking of the dogs and proportional Im- 



BEXCH SHOWS AND FIELD TRIALS. 



provement of sportsmanship. I have not the least 
doubt, that the organization of State associations will 
result in more good than can be effected in any other 
way, and I am as confident as I can be of anything, 
that such associations would soon become highly popu- 
lar, be well patronized, induce protection of game, and 
lead to an exchange of inter-state courtesies, and a 
development of sporting interest, which can never be 
brought about under our present system. 

The rules for State associations should be carefully 
drafted with special reference to each locality. While 
sufficiently rigid to compel the winners to display high 
quality and good breaking, some latitude should be 
allowed the judges to prevent injustice in cases which 
cannot be foreseen or provided for. I do not believe 
in lax rules, but I do think judges can be selected of 
sufficient honor to insure their using discretionary power 
with honesty, and I think there is less chance for wrong 
to a competitor, when a judge is permitted to consider 
the circumstances under which an act is performed, 
than there can be in the enforcement of a rigid rule. I 
know there is a disposition to tie judges down as closely 
as possible, and I am not inclined to underrate the 
temptation to which the most honorable man may be 
exposed through the influence of his prejudices. I know, 
too, that it is claimed, positive rules prevent dissatisfac- 
tion, by affording a chance for a man to see wherein his 
dog is beaten, but after all due allowance, and upon the 
evidence of the reports of past trials, I still think that 
something can be left to the discretion of . the judges, 
with benefit to themselves and to the competitors. 



224 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



F 



CHAPTER X. 

GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 

IN ALLY it appears proper that I should say a few- 
words on guns and the other portions of a sportman's 
field equipment. 

Guns. — I shall not attempt in this connection to 
enter into any long or scientific comparison of large and 
small bores, and will concede at the outstart that for 
target or for trap matches, where money depends upon 
the slaughter of every bird, and which has nothing in 
common with field shooting, the ten bore is superior to 
any smaller gauge because larger loads can be used, but 
upon the same principle, an eight bore will excel the ten, 
and a six the eight, and so on ad infinitum, to the ex- 
treme size and weight possible, in a gun used from the 
shoulder. The gun I am writing of, is one best adapted 
to the wants of American sportsmen, with due regard 
for the variety and character of the game which the 
country affords, and I say without hesitation, I think 
there has been an undue fancy for large bores. A ten 
guage gun should not weigh less than ten pounds — and 
may with propriety weigh more — to permit of its heavy 
loads without excessive recoil, and to carry and suc- 
cessfully use such a gun, in even the most open 
country, exceeds the strength of an average man. All 
excess of weight beyond that necessary in a gun capable 



GUXS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 



22i 



of killing cleanly all varieties of game, is simply a burden 
carried without corresponding returns, and that smaller 
guns shoot well enough for all field use, has been 
repeatedly shown at target competitions, and is demon- 
strated practically the world over in the field. There 
is no shooting which calls for harder hitting than 
that upon the Scotch and Welsh moors, yet sportsmen 
there use fourteen, sixteen and even twenty bore o-uns. 
One of my correspondents wrote me last year, his score 
"the first day of the season was thirty-eight brace of 
grouse, all killed with a six and a half pouncls, sixteen 
guage gun." I frankly confess I do not believe in ver}- 
small any more than in ver}- large guns, for general 
shooting upon mixed game like ours. One of the very 
best guns I ever owned or saw was a seven pounds 
fourteen guage muzzle loader, built by Chas. Lancaster 
of London, but speaking from very long experience 
with all the ordinary varieties of game, I consider an 
eight pounds twelve guage gun, with barrels twenty-eight 
or thirty inches long, according to the open or woodland 
character of the shooting, the ver}^ best for all round 
work in this country. With such a gun bored for close 
hard shooting, a man can, by varying his loads, kill 
anything from a summer cock to a canvass back, yet 
never find his gun too heavy at the end of a day's tramp. 
I have not said anything of the benefit to be derived 
from keeping guns of different weights and guagcz, 
because I have intended to speak of that which I deem 
best of all. Again, the majority of sportsmen cannot 
afford an extensive armory, and lastly, very few men 
can use different guns — even though stocked alike — 



2 26 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

with equal success. There is an old field adage that, 
" the man of one gun is to be feared," and I can say 
with confidence, the best shots I have ever known have 
been men who habitually used the same guns. All sports- 
men know how little it takes to temporarily destroy a 
man's nerve and cut down his averasfe in the field, and will 
agree with me that the addition of two pounds weight in 
hand will do this most effectually Mvit)\ most men, so that 
it follows, after the bad effects of the change have been 
overcome the same gun must be used continually, and as 
I have already said the comparatively light twelve guage, 
shoots well enough, I fail to see what is to be gained by 
changing this for a heavier. 

The next question to be decided Is, what make of 
gun is the best, a matter upon which there are almost 
as many opinions as there are different styles of guns 
in the market. I must admit that for all my natural 
pride In American manufacturers, I have, until lately, 
held the opinion that in the higher grades of guns, the 
best English builders surpass anything turned out In 
this country for symmetry, balance, and perfection of 
finish, which distinguishes a thoroughly first class gun, 
and should have felt compelled to declare In favor 
of the foreigners, if I had not had Harington and 
Richardson's best hammerless brought to my notice, 
and after careful comparison of Its different parts and 
complete make up with the best specimens from the 
crack English workshops, been forced to the conclusion 
that this firm has produced a gun equal to any In the 
world. 

The practical value of a gun depends upon the qual- 



GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 22/ 

ity of its barrels, the strength and durability of its action, 
the perfection of its locks, its shooting powers, and its 
hang or balance in the hand. Each and every one of 
these essentials is possessed by the Harrington and 
Richardson, in a degree rarely met with. The cheapest 
grade of gun has laminated barrels, sound, well forged, 
well proportioned, put together in workmanlike manner, 
and bored on scientific principles. The more costly 
grades have Damascus barrels of the highest possible 
quality. All are made exclusively for this house, and 
bear government proof marks, thus insuring the best 
barrels that can be obtained. 

The action combines the greatest strength with the 
latest improvements. It consists in double bolts with 
extension rib, top lever and patent fore-end. Experience 
shows that the double bolt with extension rib outwears 
all other styles, and holds the barrels firmly, long after 
others have become loose and shaky. The top lever is 
acknowledged more convenient than any other, and the 
advantages of the patent fore-end need no recapitulation. 
The several parts of this action are fitted with an exact- 
ness which not only insures beauty of appearance, but 
also reduces friction and consequent wear to the mini- 
mum, so that with ordinary care, one of these guns will 
last a sportsman a lifetime. 

The prominent feature of the gun is Its lock action, 
the noted Anson and Deely, the quality of which is 
proved by the fact that it is used, under license, by such 
builders as Westley Richards, Greener, Williams and 
Powell, and others. It is one of the most simple, as well 
as one of the strongest and best hammerless actions 



228 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD, 

known. It consists of less than half the number of parts 
used in an ordinary lock, and these are of such form and 
adjustment, that they can be made stronger than any 
hammer lock in existence.* In this action both locks are 
cocked and both triggers bolted automatically, by the act 
of opening the gun to insert the shells. While the triggers 
are bolted the gun is absolutely safe from discharge, 
but a slight movement of the safety stop will release 
the triggers instantly for firing. The locks can be 
uncocked without discharging the gun, and by the 
arrangement of a plate below the frame, they can 
be wiped or oiled without taking them out, by with- 
drawing a single screw. The greater safety, simplicity 
and effectiveness of the hammerless guns, are now so 
generally recognized that it is only a question of brief 
time when they will supercede hammer guns as com- 
pletely as breech-loaders have superceded muzzle-loaders. 
There can be no possible objection to the hammerless 
action on the part of any one who will give it an unpreju- 
diced examination. Its advantages are unquestionable, 
and it has no real offsetting disadvantages. Prejudiced 
critics have claimed that there is orreater dangfer of 
accident, from the fact that, as there are no hammers, 
there is nothing to show that the gun is cocked. On 
the contrary, there is the fact that the gun is always 
cocked after it has been broken open, unless the ham- 
mers have been let down, yet it is so bolted that 
discharge is impossible until the triggers are released, 
and these can be bolted again at any time. The only 
safety with a hammer gun, lies in putting the hammers 
at half cock, but that this is no absolute safeguard has 

*See Cut next page. 



GUNS x\ND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. . 229 

been proved times without number. There is no excuse 
for leaving a loaded gun about or giving one to a person 
for examination, and to such carelessness the greater 
portion of accidents is due. The utmost precaution 
cannot insure against accident under such circumstances, 
but these are not legitimate risks and cannot be provided 
for by any mechanical contrivance in either hammer or 
hammerless guns. Legitimate risks, are those which 
all run in handling guns in the field, and against these 
no other gun affords security equal to that of the ham- 
merless, with safety bolt. 

The shooting of a gun depends simply upon the 
boring, so that a cheap one can be made to perform as 
weliy^r a time as one of the best in material and man- 
ufacture, but permanence in shooting quality depends 
upon the wear of the barrel, and as good material will 
stand work with less wear than poor, barrels of high 
grade will retain their boring and consequent shooting 
longer than cheap ones. 

The hang or balance of a gun is not a matter 
of mere elegance, as an ill-balanced gun handles as 
awkwardly as a bar of iron. In open shooting, where 
each shot can be taken deliberately, lack of proper 
balance is not so destructive to success as in cover, but 
where snap shots are in order, there must be sympa- 
thetic action of hand and eye, so that the gun will come 
instantly to the line of sight, and remain there till 
discharged. There is no time under such circumstances 
to correct the erratic swing of an ill-balanced gun, and 
an attempt to do so will lead to poking, which will 
result in the bird escaping unshot at, or missed. The 



230 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

perfect balance which seems to reduce the actual weight 
of the gun, and which makes it come up easily to the 
eye, is one of the marked qualities of the Harrington 
and Richardson. This is a point upon which the best 
English makers pride themselves, and truth demands the 
admission they are justified in so doing. It is a point 
in which American guns are too frequently lacking, 
especially as most of our choke bores are made very 
heavy at the muzzle, which without corresponding 
distribution of weight in other parts must make the gun 
hang down, thus greatly increasing the chances of shoot- 
ins: under risinaf birds. There is no reason for this 
defect, and the Harrington and Richardson is conspicu- 
ously free from it, in fact I have never taken one of 
these guns in hand that did not balance well and come 
up with a freedom which gave confidence in being well 
on the mark, a confidence sportsmen will recognize as 
being one of the most efficient helps in the field. 

The qualities I have enumerated are common to all 
the Harrington and Richardson guns irrespective of 
price, and all are therefore reliable weapons in the field. 
The $100. grade is a sound, serviceable, handsome gun, 
good enough for any man to use, yet the higher grades 
running up to $300. for the best, are proportionally 
superior in material and workmanship, the latter gun 
being fully equal to the best turned out by the crack 
London makers at even higher figures, I do not speak 
unadvisably in this, as I have taken pains to compare 
the Harrington and Richardson, critically, with some of 
the highest priced and most perfect guns ever sent to 
America, and this, too, with prejudice in favor of the 



GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 



231 



latter, so that my present opinion Is based upon evidence 
which forced me unwillingly to this conclusion. I am 
frankly pleased by it, because as an American, I desire 
to see our manufactures equal any in the world, yet I 
do not believe in that foolish national pride, which leads 
many to think our products superior to all others, simply 
because they are our own. In forming all conclusions, 
I strive to give due credit to a thing irrespective of the 
source from which it springs. I acknowledge that many 
of our American guns are equal in all respects to those 
of their grade of foreign build, but I maintain that in 
the hio-hest grades we cannot as a rule, compare with 
the best English makers, and that the Harrington and 
Richardson is exceptional in this respect. I say this 
after years of experience with the best of our guns, and 
I believe my assertion will be supported by all who will 
compare the Harrington and Richardson with other 
American guns, and then with those of English makers 
of the best reputation. I have no wish to be unjust to 
any manufacturer, and In writing what I have, I decide 
against the gun I have used constantly for years, and 
for which I have the regard natural to a sportsman. 
I feel, however, that I am honorably bound to frankly 
admit merit, irrespective of whatever effect such admis- 
sion may have upon things I like or have liked in the 
past, and I cannot consistently ignore evident superiority, 
when convinced that such superiority exists. ■ 

Among the agents of the Harrington and Richardson 
gun, are Schoverling, Daly and Gales, of New York; 
B. Kittridge & Co. of Cincinnati ; Symmonds Hardware 
Co., of St\ouis ; Hibbard, Spencer & Co., of Chicago ; 



232 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

Ducharme, Fletcher & Co. of Detroit, and Edward K. 
Tryon Jr. & Co., of Philadelphia. All these are firms 
of undeniably first-class standing, and their association 
with this gun as its agents is of itself a proof of high 
quality. For though it may be claimed that business 
men will take hold of any article of legitimate trade that 
will pay, it may be argued on the other hand that firms 
of high reputation cannot afford to lend their names to 
guns or other articles of inferior quality, since that 
Inferiority will surely be discovered sooner or later, and 
Involve the handlers in loss greater than any previous 
gain can compensate for. Such firms as I have named 
are well known to the public. They are made up of 
shrewd men, whose experience has taueht them that 
the only way to gain an established position in public 
confidence is to deal honorably with all men, and having 
by years of manly persistence in this cause, built up 
reputations, which, when looked upon solely in a mer- 
cenary way are worth fortunes to their possessors, they 
will not sacrifice these to the paltry gains to be made 
out of imposing an inferior gun upon their patrons. 
Such men are not easily deceived. Whatever Is submit- 
ted for their Inspection is critically examined and its 
true worth and real quality alone decides its acceptance. 
Under such circumstances even an unknown article 
obtains a reputation from the reputation of its agents, and 
this will be amply sustained in the present case by 
inspection. 

English makers are very fond of sneering at machine 
made guns, but there Is not a particle of sound sense In 
their arguments against these, and, in fact, these asser- 



GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 



tlons are put forth simply to give their own guns a 
^ziasi-supenonty, enabHng their makers to sustain prices 
and retain their hold upon the American trade. What- 
ever claims to superiority English guns may have, these 
are not rightly based upon the fact that such guns are 
hand made. The gun is a machine composed of different 
parts, and it stands to reason that these can be more 
accurately made and finished by automatic action than 
by hand, in fact the perfection of machine work Is proved 
by the interchangeable character of the parts of machine 
guns, while those of hand made ones are never exactly 
alike, as is admitted by the warmest advocates of the 
latter. If the density or quality of the metal was In any 
way affected by hand work, this claim would have some 
force, but the truth Is, the barrels of most English guns 
come from the same factories as those used In American 
machine guns, and consequently one Is as good as the 
other. The grinding, fitting and finishing of these, 
gains nothing from the hand, that it does not gain from 
the machinery, assertions to the contrary notwithstand- 
ing, so that as perfect barrels are obtained by machine 
process as can be turned out in any possible way. The 
parts of a lock can be cut, filed and fitted automatically 
with an exactness human muscles cannot equal, and stocks 
can be turned as elegantly as they can be worked, down, 
by the best hand tools, guided by the most cunning 
hand. There is neither rhyme nor reason In such asser- 
tions, and they will be disputed by all who will put them 
to the test by examining specimens of both styles of 
work, I am ready to concede merit where It Is proved, 
and I have already expressed my opinion of English 



234 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

and American guns, but I am not inclined to admit 
claims which have no foundation in fact, and emenate 
solely from prejudice. 

Shells. — In the manufacture of shells American 
makers can hold their own against those of any other 
country. I have used the best grade of Ely shells, and 
neither by use nor comparison, can I detect any supe- 
riority over the Union Metalic Company's, the U. S. 
Cartridge Company's or the Winchester shells. I have 
shot thousands of both English and American shells, 
and consider the latter in all respects equal to the former. 
All I have named are made of good paper, that will not 
split or swell with ordinary use or exposure. All crimp 
equally well, and all are equally sure fire, in fact I think 
misshres are more commonly due to the faulty construc- 
tion or working of the gun than to fault in the shells. 
I tested in the field and in all sorts of weather, two 
thousand of the Union Metalic Co's. first quality shells 
and did not have a single missfire, which at least shows 
reason for doubt that failure may be due to the gun. 
I do not believe the glancing blow given by an Inclined 
plunger, as sure as the direct blow from a level plunger. 
I have very seldom known a Parker gun missfire, though 
I have known others equally good, do so frequently, 
and the difference Is, in my opinion, due to the relative 
positionof the plungers. 

Upon the comparative shooting qualities of paper 
and metal shells there is a difference of opinion, but I 
think there is no doubt the latter are a trifle superior to 
the former, this superiority is not great enough, however, 
to compensate for the inconvenience of carrying" about 



GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 



235 



a lot of jingling brass, and for field use paper shells 
hold deservedly the first place in public esteem. 

Shell Carriers. — The most convenient way to 
carry shells in the field, is a matter to which I have 
given much attention, and upon which I have made 
many experiments. I have, I think, tried all the differ- 
ent styles of belts, bags and holders, and have discarded 
all for a simple false vest front, made of a single piece 
with a strap over the neck and a broad belt at the waist, 
buttonine with two buttons at the side. What I mean 
by vest front is, a piece of stout duck cut. exactly like 
the front of a vest but not open. This fits well over 
the chest being kept, in place by the neck strap (which 
buttons on the shoulder), and the belt. This belt is 
simply a broad band sewed to one side of the front and 
passing round the back to the other where it buttons. 
Across this front I have three rows of pockets, each of 
the lower ones holding sixteen No. 12 shells, while the 
upper row, which is a trifle smaller owing to the narrow- 
ing of the front towards the top, holds fifteen. There 
is ample room for another row above this, but the front 
as it is holds all the shells a man will care to carry about 
him at a time. This front is light, easily put on or 
taken off without taking off the coat, and is more com- 
fortable and less cumbersome than any belt or vest in 
the market, besides costing less than half as much, I 
have used it for years, and would not give it up for any 
other contrivance whatever its name or form may be. 

Loading Tools. — The best loading tool I have ever 
seen is one that any ordinary mechanic can make for 
himself. It is simply a block of black walnut, four and 



■0 



6 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



a half by seven inches, and two and a half inches thick. 
Through this are bored in alternate rows of three and 
four, twenty-four holes just large enough to admit a 
No. 12 shell. Over one end of these holes a piece of 
half inch maple board is glued, the holes through it 
beins: counter-sunk so as to act as wad starters, makinsf 
the top of the block. The lower side has a flap or cover 
with small holes opposite the cap on each shell, thus 
preventing explosion when the wads are driven home. 
This cover is hung on brass hinges, the sides fastened 
to the block having slides cut in them instead of ordinary 
screw holes, thus allowing the cover to be pulled down 
when shells of greater length than two and a half inches 
are loaded. If these extension hinges cannot be got, 
the cover can be fitted with dowels to run up into the 
block. 

A block can be made to accommodate No. lo shells 
in the same way by proper change of proportions. 

I have seen blocks fitted with mechanical contrivances 
for filling the shells but I do not like them, because if 
there is occasion to change the proportions of the charge, 
this cannot be done with the ease and certainty obtain- 
able with this simple block, and common Dixon powder 
and shot scoops. 

Loads. — The proper load for a gun, that is, the one 
which will give the best exhibit in point of pattern and 
penetration, is not to be decided by any general rule, 
but must be determined by targeting the gun in question. 
Much depends upon the way the gun is bored, and some- 
thing too, I think, upon the peculiarities of the barrels, 
as guns made by the same maker, and which are as closely 



GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 



237 



as jDossible alike in appearance and target, will be found 
to vary greatly when different loads from those specified 
by the maker are used. To explain what I mean by 
the last sentence I would say, in all large manufactories 
all guns of the same bore are targeted with the same 
loads, and the card which goes with each gun giving its 
pattern, generally specifies the charge with which it was 
made ; it follows, therefore, that though the gun will 
make a certain target with a certain charge, its individual 
peculiarities have not been tested, and I have known of 
many cases where a better target has beeh got by a 
change in charge. Peculiarities can only be discovered 
by a series of experiments which manufacturers have 
not time for, but which will amply repay the sportsman 
to whom a thorough knowledge of his gun's capabilities 
is of the highest inportance. 

The most common mistake is over-charging. This 
produces excessive recoil, which not only shocks the 
sportsman, but also causes irregularity of pattern, so that 
it must be apparent that to get the best performance from 
a gun, the load best adapted to it must be used, and 
this can only be determined by a series of tests. 

Simply as a rough approximation I may say, the 
proper load for a No. 12, is from three to four drachms 
of powder and one ounce of shot. A No. 10, will take 
an extra drachm and an extra half ounce. 

Powder and Shot. — After using all the different 
grades of American powder and the best of the English, 
I am forced to give preference over all others to Hazard's 
Electric. It is simply the cleanest, strongest and most 
regular in performance of any I have tried in all the 



238 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 



years of my field experience. I have tried it very 
thoroughly both in the field and at the target, against 
the best powder procurable, and have got better results 
from it than from any other, and I believe if it could 
be put upon the market at a lower figure, it would be 
the most popular powder of the day. The care and 
labor expended upon its manufacture fully warrant its 
cost, but that cost unquestionably militates against its 
o-eneral use ; those, however, who can afford it will I 
think, find themselves fully repaid by its hard hitting 
powers, and the condition of the gun after a day's sport. 
The Hazard Powder Co. also manufactures powder of 
lower grades proportionately good, and in these, sports- 
men of moderate means will get a better article In my 
opinion, than can be procured elsewhere at the same 
price. 

Next to Hazard's, in the line of American powder, 
I like the Oriental, and of the different brands of that 
make, the " Falcon Ducking " suits me best. It is a good 
clean powder of moderate price, well suited to general 
shooting, and deservedly popular. 

That an improvement in powder is demanded by the 
times, must be self evident. With the best now made 
we have to contend with dirt, recoil and smoke, which 
often prevents the use of the second barrel. These 
must be done away with if powder is to be brought up 
to an equality with our improved guns. Several vari- 
eties of powder designed to correct these evils have been 
put upon the market, but all have been as defective in 
other respects as they have been effective in this, and 
consequently none have been generally accepted by the 



GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 



239 



public. It is simply a question of time when this want 
will be supplied, as inventors have solved too many 
difficult problems to be successfully opposed by this. 

I do not propose to compare the shot made by dif- 
ferent companies, since though there is a slight difference 
in the number of pellets to the ounce, this does not 
materially affect it for field use. I must, however, say 
a few words upon the comparative merits of soft and 
chilled shot. Tested at a target, chilled shot shows the 
most penetration, because the pellets do not flatten as 
those of the soft variety do, and as this power of resist- 
ance is not affected by circumstances, it follows that 
chilled shot will inflict a deeper and more serious wound 
upon a bird than soft. For certain kinds of shooting 
where ven' hard hitting is required, as at the trap and 
ducks, chilled shot is unquestionably the superior of the 
two, but for ordinar)- field work I think there is more 
lost than gained by its use. In cover, where close shots 
are the rule, I have found chilled shot cuts birds up 
much worse than soft, so that a larger proportion of 
o-ame is rendered worthless ; the same objection holds 
aood in quail shooting, where the first barrel is fired 
quickly to bring the second to bear, so that though in 
the course of a season a few birds will probably be 
brou2;ht to bag, that from distance would only be wounded 
bv soft shot, this gain does not counterbalance the loss 
of birds cut to pieces. Apart from this it is not a mat- 
ter of little moment to break a tooth by biting upon a 
pellet that will not give, and this I have known occur in 
two instances. For the trap shooter whose match may 
be lost by a wounded bird flying out of bounds, or for 



240 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

the market shooter, to whom each cluck represents 
money, chilled shot answers well, but the sportsman 
who shoots for pleasure and takes pride in having his 
birds look whole and nice, will, I think, be better served 
by soft shot which kills at all ordinary ranges, when the 
gun is well aimed. 

Shooting Suits. — The all round sportsman needs 
suits of different material adapted to the season. When 
the weather is warm the so called water-proof duck 
makes a comfortable and serviceable rig, and if this is 
made with a thick flannel lining, which can be put in In 
the fall. It will serve till the extreme cold brings woolen 
cords into use. I speak of this as " so called water- 
proof," because I have never found any that would 
not wet through if exposed to a heavy shower, or to 
walking through high grass or bushes loaded with 
dew. It is, however, much more impervious to wet 
than any other light material, and the process of water- 
proofing renders the duck tougher and more lasting 
in wear. 

Men past middle age, or those at all inclined to 
rheumatism, need warm clothing in cold weather. 
Some writers advocate wearingr two or three flannel 
shirts, but I have found such very awkward as they 
bundle up the arms and are in the way In all quick 
shots. I much prefer a suit of imported heavy woolen 
corduroy, worn over a thick flannel shirt, and In 
extreme weather an under vest of chamois leather. 
This will keep a man warm while he is exercising, no 
matter how cold it may be, and will not Interfere 
with the use of the gun. 



GUNS AND FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 



241 



All shooting coats should be left open under the 
arms, that is, the sleeves should not be sewed to the 
body. This gives perfect freedom from weight when 
the gun is raised, which can never be the case with a 
coat of ordinary make when the pockets are loaded with 
game. 

Boots and Shoes. — No matter how strong a walker 
a man may be, he cannot tramp comfortably unless he 
is well shod. For dry ground I have found nothing 
equal to stout, broad soled, low healed shoes, with stout 
leggins to keep seeds out of the ankles, and prevent the 
pants catching in briars and sticks. For wet, a water- 
proof boot is needed, and well-dressed leather is far 
more comfortable and serviceable than rubber. Messrs. 
Thompson & Son, of New York, make the best boots 
and shoes I have ever worn. Their boots, which come 
up under the knee, are made of well-tanned grained 
leather thoroughly water-proof, and have a flap on each 
side of the instep, which laced together, hold the boot 
firmly over the foot like a laced shoe, thus preventing 
all slipping at the heal, and at the same time supporting 
the ankle. ,, Their shoes are made of the same leather 
with water-proof tongues, and are as perfect in their 
way as the boots. I wore one pair of these boots three 
seasons through wet and snow, and was never drier or 
more easily shod. 

Those who want leather goods of any description 
suited to sportsmen's use, cannot do better than apply 
to Messrs. Thompson & Son. For gun and shell 
cases and trunks as well as boots and shoes, these 
gentlemen enjoy a well deserved national reputation, 



242 AMERICAN KENNEL AND FIELD. 

and after giving all their goods a thorough trial, I 
feel I cannot do less than recommend them at this 
time to the public. 



The End. 




Full-Blooded Tan Terrier. 



RECKLESS. 



THE PUBLISHER S FAITHFUL DOG. 



A favorite and gentle pet, 

And pretty as a dog can be ; 
And who that's seen her can forget 

Her capers of wild ecstacy. 

Though small, she makes a mighty noise, 
When watching in her master's store, 

The terror of unruly boys 

And tramps that come too near the door. 

A pleasant word, a tender glance, 

Will win her favor everywhere ; 
And she will wag her tail and dance, — 

Though " Reckless" she is free from care. 

c. w. B. 



DOG 




NEW 
C 
BOOK. 

Kennel 

k^ Sporting Field. 

1 vol. Square 8vo. Illustrated. Reduced Price, $3.00. 

By Arnold Burges, late Editor of the American 

Sportsman. 




A Treatise on the Breeding, Breaking, and practical use of 
fine Dogs, with over 300 Pedigrees of Imported and Native Dogs 
of the best Strains. Below are given the titles of the chapters, 
by which a general view may be had of the scope and contents 
of the book : 

CONTENTS. 

ORIGIN OF THE DOG: SOME SPORTING BREED3-WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD 
DOG-CHOOSING A DOG-DOGS ADAPTED TO SPORTING IN AMERICA— BREEDING 
—BREAKING YOUNG AND OLD DOGS— KENNEL MANAGEMENT, RECIPES AND 
TREATMENT OF DISEASES, ETC.,— THE SPORTSMAN'S LIBRARY— PEDIGREES 
OF ENGLISH SETTERS— PEDIGREES OF GORDON SETTERS-PEDIGREES OF 
IRISH SETTERS— NATIVE SETTERS-CROSS-BRED SETTERS— POINTERS— SPAN- 
IELS OF VARIOUS BREEDS— FIELD TRIALS AND BENCH SHOWS [including all 
the awards made at public showa and trials from Oct., '74, to Dec, '75.] 



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iSpirit of the Tivies. 

"The whole Chapter on {Breaking) Is &o close and concise in its direct- 
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toreak a dog thoroughly well, and any business man can in his brief inter- 
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alone is worth more than the cost of the book to any sportsman. - - Its 
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duced In America. - - - Its 'kennel management' is perfection."— 
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" It Is the very best book of Its class that we have seen."— Phila. Press. 



To be had of all Booksellers, or will be sent to any address, 

post-paid, on receipt of the price by 

89 Fourth St. , Brooklyn, N. Y. 



FIFTH EDITIO:S OF 




f 



Celebi^kted ©ook, 

On the BEEEDING, TEAINIlTe, 

MANAGEMENT and DISEASES of 

^ O ^ '^ » 

Newly Revised and Enlarged, 400 Pages, 

ILLUSTRATED WITH 75 WOOD CUTS. 

Admitted by all to be the best authority and most reliable 
work ever published on this subject, 

Rules and Regulations of the Kennel Club, together 
with cuts of the Dog Show held in New York 
in 1877, (S;o.. &c. 

Price $2.00, mailed free on receipt of Price, by the Publisher 

D. S. HOLMES, 

89 FOURTH STREET, 

Brooklyn, "B. D 



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